PICTORIAL  VOYAGE, 


KNOWN  AS 


Cfrc  JSciwt  JHiif  liJirror 


TO 


illlDl,  llSlitll  PlilTlli 


A  N  D 


THE  SAGUENAY, 

EMBltAOING  FULL  AND  ACCURATE  VIEWS  AM)  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  T1IE 

MONUMENTS,  CITIES,  RUINS,  LAKES,  FALLS  AND  RAPIDS,  OF 

BRITISH  AMERICA; 


ALSO, 

VIEWS  OF  THE  REPUBLICAN  BORDER  ALONG  THE  SHORES  OF 
LAKE  ERIE  AND  BOTH  BANKS  OF  THE  NIAGARA  RIVER, 
LAKE  ONTARIO  AND  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE: 


LIKEWISE 


4v  m 


UP  THE  REMOTE  AND  SUBLIME  SAGUENAY  RIVER,  SITUATED  IN 
THE  HUDSON’S  BAY  TERRITORY. 


IS  THE  LARGEST  AND  MOST  ELABORATELY  FINISHED  MOVING  PAINTING 

EVER  EXECUTED. 

JOSIAH  PERM  AM, 

PROPRIETOR. 


n 

& 


-En3-EflS- 


Baker,  Godwin  &  Co.,  Printers,  No.  1  Spruce  St.,  New  York. 


OF  A  FEW  OF  THE  MOST  PROMINENT  OBJECTS  AND  PLACES 
EXHIBITED  ON  THE  MIRROR. 


City  of  Buffalo. 

Erie  Canal. 

Grand  and  Navy  Islands. 

Chippewa  Battle  Ground. 

Niagara  Falls. 

Suspension  Bridge. 

The  Great  Whirlpool. 

Queenston  Heights,  and 
Brock’s  Monument. 

Lewiston  and  Queenston. 

Fort  Niagara  and  Massasauga. 

Lake  Ontario. 

Welland  Canal. 

Hamilton. 

The  Villages  of  Port  Credit,  Oakville, 
and  Humber  Bay. 

Port  Hope  in  a  Storm. 

Coburg  and  Kingston. 

Toronto. 

The  Thousand  Islands. 

Brockville,  by  Moonlight. 

Maitland  Mills  and  Village. 
Ogdensburg  and  Prescott. 

Fort  Wellington,  Windmill  Point. 

The  Great  Rapids  of  Gallop. 

Long  Sault,  Cedar,  and  Lachine. 

The  Ship  Canals. 

The  Villages  of  Matilda. 

East  and  West  Williamsburg 
The  Cornwall  Canal  and  Village. 

Lake  St.  Francis. 

The  Villages  of  Lancaster  and-  Cote 
de  Lac. 

Village  of  the  Cedars. 

La  Chine. 

Montreal. 

St.  Helen’s  Island. 

Longuiel  Point  &  Point  aux  Trembles. 
The  Steamers  John  Munn,  Lady 
Elgin,  Quebec  and  Montreal,  on  a 
race  for  Quebec. 

Lake  St.  Peter, 

Villages  of  River  de  lu  Marcliush  and 
Point  de  Lac. 


Three  Rivers. 

Battiscan  Girondines. 

De  Chambault,  Cape  Sante. 

Cape  Rouge,  by  Moonlight. 

Wolf’s  Cove. 

Plains  of  Abraham. 

City  and  Citadel  of  Quebec. 
Beauport. 

Montmorenci  Falls. 

Villages  of  Loehgerrien. 

St.  Ann’s  and  St.  Lucienne. 

Mount  Tonn. 

Cape'  Tourment. 

Seal  Shoals. 

St.  Paul’s  Bay. 

Goose  Cape,  Cape  Salmon  and  Cape 
Eagle. 

Great  Mai  Bay. 

Indians’  Stepping  Stones. 

Pro  Keag,  by  Moonlight 
Porpoise  Traps. 

The  Jesuit’s  Archway. 

St.  Catharine’s  Bay. 

Tadousac  Harbor. 

Thence  up  the  Saguenay. 

Tete  De  Boule  Rock. 

The  Outlet  of  the  Marguerite  River 
Whale  pursued  by  a  Sword  Fish 
St.  Louis  Islands. 

Cape  Eternity. 

Trinity  Cove. 

Cape  Trinity. 

The  Three  Profiles. 

Statue  Point. 

Ha  Ha,  or  Grand  Bay. 

The  Chicoutimi  Channel. 

The  Village  of  the  Mills,  in  a  Snow 
Storm. 

Chicoutimi. 

Boats  on  ice,  propelled  by  wind. 

The  head  of  navigation  at  the  foot  of 
the  Great  Portage  or  Rapids,  near 
Lake  St.  John. 


DESCRIPTIVE  AND  HISTORICAL 

VIEW 

OF  THE 

SEVEN  MILE  MIRROR 

OP  THE 

LAKES,  NIAGARA,  ST.  LAWRENCE, 

AND  SAGUENAY  RIVERS, 


EMBRACING  THE 

ENTIRE  RANGE  OE  BORDER  SCENERY, 

OF  THE 


UNITED  STATES  AND  CANADIAN  SHORES, 

FROM 

LAKE  ERIE  TO  TEE  ATLANTIC. 


COPYRIGHT  SECURED. 


NEW  YORK: 

BAKER,  GODWIN  &  CO.,  BOOK  AND  JOB  PRINTERS, 

CORNER  NASSAU  AND  SPRUCE  STREETS. 

185.4. 


MAP  of  the  lakes  and  rivers 


ILLUSTRATED  ON 

THE  SEVEN  MILE  MIRROR 


REMARKS 


w 


The  Proprietor  assures  the  public  that  the  painting  which  has  been  aptly 
denominated  the  “  Mammoth  Moving  Mirror,”  is  a  true  and  faithful  portraiture 
of  the  scenery  which  it  professes  to  represent ;  every  object,  from  the  com¬ 
mencement  of  the  pictorial  journey  to  its  close,  having  been  carefully  drawn 
and  colored  on  the  spot. 

The  public  may  rely  on  the  accuracy  of  the  views  portrayed  on  this  almost 
endless  painting.  They  were  not  taken  on  a  flying  steamboat  trip.  The 
Proprietor,  and  that  celebrated  artist,  Mr.  E.  P.  Barnes,  of  New  York  city, 

WALKED  THE  WHOLE  DISTANCE  FROM  LAKE  ERIE  ALONG  THE  EANKS  OF  THE 
Niagara  to  Lake  Ontario,  making/«ZZ  drawings  of  the  entire  range  of  scenery , 
encountering  great  peril  in  descending  and  drawing  each  other  up  the  dizzy  cliffs 
which  overhang  the  Great  Whirlpool  at  a  height  of  several  hundred  feet. 

Arriving  at  Lake  Ontario,  the  proprietor  fitted  up  a  vessel,  and  with  pilot 
crew,  and  all  necessary  conveniences  for  the  Artists,  proceeded  with  the  draw¬ 
ings  as  far  as  Quebec,  where  a  second  vessel  was  chartered,  which  arrived  at 
Saguenay  late  in  autumn — ending  the  voyage  amid  the  snow  and  ice  which 
abound  in  that  region.  Thus,  two-thirds  of  a  year  were  consumed  in  making 
the  preliminary  drawings. 

Mr.  Perham,  the  Proprietor  of  the  Mirror,  exhibited  this  painting  in  Boston 
for  the  period  of  eighteen  months,  and  during  that  time  brought  into  the  city 
|  .  of  Boston  from  various  parts  of  New  England  and  Canada,  over  200,000 
people,  in  railroad  and  steamboat  excursion  parties.  During  the  same  time  he 
arranged  and  successfully  carried  through  excursion  parties  from  Boston  to 
New  York,  Washington,  also  to  Niagara  Falls,  Montreal,  and  Quebec.  Mr. 
Perham  is,  in  fact,  the  father  of  the  cheap  excursion  system  in  this  country, 
and  by  his  enterprise  and  liberality  many  thousands  have  enjoyed  the  pleasures 
of  travel,  and  obtained  much  useful  knowledge  of  their  own  country,  as  well 
as  greatly  benefiting  the  cities  in  which  he  has  been  located,  by  this  great  influx 
of  visitors. 

The  following  from  the  Boston  Evening  Traveller,  gives  a  portion  of  the 
business*  transactions  in  this  line  : — 


4 


A 


UNPRECEDENTED  SUCCESS. 

The  following  list  of  parties  that  have  visited  “  The  Seven  Mile  Mirror,” 
of  the  Lakes,  Niagara,  St.  Lawrence,  and  Saguenay  Rivers,  now  exhibited  at 
the  Melodeon,  during  a  period  of  little  more  than  one  month,  will  serve  to 
show  what  can  be  done  by  a  man  who  has  the  genius  to  do  it.  These  are 
parties  brought  in  by  extra  trains  on  the  railroads  from  country  towns,  and  do 
not  include  any  of  those  who  have  seen  the  Mirror  at  the  regular  exhibitions 
in  the  evening  or  on  the  afternoons  of  Wednesday  and  Saturday,  nor  the  78 
schools  which  during  the  same  period  have  been  accommodated  with  extra 
exhibitions.  Taking  this  into  view,  the  necessity  of  having  so  many  exhibi¬ 
tions  a-day,  amounting  some  days  to  seven,  is  accounted  for,  and  the  estimate 
that  50,000  persons  have  seen  this  painting  during  the  past  month,  is  relieved 
of  extravagance.  We  are  mistaken  if  this  is  not  a  little  the  tallest  success  on 
record. 

List  of  Parties  that  have  Visited  the  Seven  Mile  Mirror,  with  the 

Number  of  Each. 

Lynn,  500  ;  Worcester,  650  ;  Worcester  (2d  party),  750;  Westboro’,  700  ; 
Worcester  (3d  party),  900 ;  Milford  and  Holliston,  850;  Salem,  600;  New- 
buryport,  800;  Milford,  700;  Waltham,  400;  Grafton,  700;  North  and  East 
Abington,  900 ;  Northboro’,  850  ;  Feltonville,  600 ;  Worcester  (4th  party),  900  ; 
Southboro’  and  Marlboro’,  900  ;  Hopkinton,  800  ;  Shrewsbury  and  Milbury, 
950;  Natick  and  Needham,  750;  Abington  Centre,  400;  Medway,  900;  South 
Abington,  650 ;  Fall  River,  800  ;  Framingham,  650  ;  Fitchburg,  1,300  ;  Wey¬ 
mouth,  850  ;  Bolton,  850;  Nashua,  N.  H.,  1,400;  Plymouth,  950  ;  Manchester, 
N.  H.,  1,500  ;  Springfield,  1,000  ;  West  Townsend  and  New  Ipswich,  1,000; 
Newton,  1,200;  Quincy,  850;  Northampton,  1,000;  Brookfield  and  Warren, 
1,700  ;  Hanson  1,000  ;  Pittsfield  and  North  Adams,  1,000.  Total  33,200. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  this  painting  has  now  been  on  exhibition  in  this 
city  six  months,  and  was  uncommonly  successful  from  the  first.  It  is  thought 
that  the  success  of  some  of  the  previous  months  was  nearly  equal  to  that  of 
the  last.  But  its  tide  seems  to  be  by  no  means  turned ;  for  we  are  informed 
that  parties  are  now  engaged  in  different  parts  of  this  State,  New  Hampshire, 
Maine  and  Connecticut,  that  will  probably  include  more  than  15,000  persons, 
that  are  now  waiting  their  turns  to  visit  the  exhibition. 


PICTORIAL 


TOUR. 


The  scenery  selected  for  this  Mirror  commences  on  Lake 
Erie,  and  includes  the  Niagara  River  with  its  stupendous  cat¬ 
aract,  Lake  Ontario,  the  mighty  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  dark, 
wild,  and  mysterious  Saguenay.  In  addition  to  the  attractions 
which  the  bold  and  romantic  scenery  on  this  route  possesses  for 
the  lover  of  the  beautiful  and  picturesque,  the  painting  exhibits 
the  most  interesting  portion  of  the  boundary  between  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  including  the  entire  range  of  scenery  on  both 
shores,  from  Lake  Erie  to  the  Gulf  of  the  St  Lawrence  near  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  and  teems  throughout  with  historical  associa¬ 
tions  of  the  highest  interest.  The  extent  of  the  country  em¬ 
braced  in  this  painting  being  so  vast,  and  being  truly  a  form 
incognita  to  many  of  our  readers,  a  brief  geographical  descrip¬ 
tion  of  the  great  Lakes  forming  the  source  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
and  a  slight  sketch  of  the  United  Provinces  of  Upper  and  Low¬ 
er  Canada,  will  not  be  deemed  inappropriate,  before  describing 
seriatim  the  subjects  as  they  appear  on  the  Canvas. 

THE  LAKES. 

The  most  striking  peculiarity  of  this  part  of  North  America 
is  its  immense  lakes,  which,  in  respect  to  depth  and  extent  of 
surface,  have  no  equals  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  Lake  Superior 
is  the  largest  of  these  inland  seas,  and  without  exception,  the 
most  extensive  body  of  fresh  water  in  the  world ;  being  about 
1,500  miles  in  circumference.  In  shape  it  is  an  irregular  cres¬ 
cent,  and  its  length  is  nearly  400  miles.  Its  surface  is  elevat¬ 
ed  625  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  its  mean  depth  is 
900  feet.  More  than  220  rivers  and  streams  pour  into  it  their 
waters  from  the  surrounding  mountains. 

Lake  Huron,  the  second  in  magnitude  of  this  great  chain  of 
lakes^  receives  the  surplus  waters  of  Lake  Superior  by  St. 
Mary’s  Channel.  Its  circumference  is  supposed  to  be  nearly 
1,000  miles,  and  the  depth  is  estimated  at  from  900  to  1,000  feet. 
Near  its  northwestern  point  a  narrow  strait  connects  it  with 


6 


Lake  Michigan,  which  is  entirely  included  in  the  United  States. 
By  Lake  St.  Clair  and  the  Detroit  River,  Lake  Huron  commu¬ 
nicates  witlTLake  Erie,  whose  circumference  is  about  600  miles. 
This,  in  a  commercial  point  of  view,  ranks  as  the  most  import¬ 
ant  of  the  whole  chain  of  lakes ;  possessing  the  most  extensive 
channels  of  inland  communication  in  the  world.  By  means  of 
the  Erie  Canal  it  connects  with  the  Hudson  river  and  the  At¬ 
lantic  Ocean ;  and  by  the  Ohio  Canal,  with  the  Ohio  and  Mis¬ 
sissippi  rivers  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  Welland  Canal, 
also,  on  the  Canadian  side,  forms  a  ship  channel  for  vessels  to 
pass  through  to  Lake  Ontario,  and  thence  by  the  river  St.  Law¬ 
rence  to  the  ocean. 

CANADA. 

This  province  derives  its  name  from  the  Iroquois  word  Kan- 
ata ,  which  signifies  a  village  or  collection  of  huts.  It  extends 
from  Gaspe,  in  the  east,  to  Sandwich,  at  the  end  of  Lake  Erie, 
in  the  west.  On  the  west,  its  shores  are  washed  by  Lake  Hu¬ 
ron  ;  on  the  south-east,  by  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario,  and  by  the 
St.  Lawrence  as  far  as  the  boundary  of  the  45th  parallel  of 
latitude.  From  thence,  the  great  river  St.  Lawrence  flows 
through  the  center  of  the  province,  and  contributes  as  a  votive 
offering  to  the  ocean,  half  the  fresh  water  on  the  surface  of  the 
globe  ! 

The  above  brief  description  will,  it  is  presumed,  be  sufficient 
to  convey  to  the  untraveled  spectator  an  adequate  idea  of  the 
great  inland  seas  of  America  which  form  the  source  of  the 
mighty  river  whose  shores  this  moving  mirror  illustrates.  We 
beg  leave  to  call  the  attention  of  those  who  are  about  to  accom¬ 
pany  us  through  these  romantic  regions,  to  some  historical  and 
statistical  particulars  connected  with  the  various  spots  depicted, 
which  will  add  much  to  the  interest  of  the  pictorial  journey. 

THE  CITY  OF  BUFFALO  ’ 

Is  beautifully  situated,  at  the  eastern  end  of  Lake  Erie  and 
near  the  entrance  of  the  Niagara  river.  The  harbor  is  formed 
by  a  creek,  which  crosses  the  southern  portion  of  the  city  and 
is  separated  from  the  Lake  by  a  peninsula.  A  breakwat  er  1,500 
feet  in  length,  projects  into  the  Lake,  at  the  extremity  of  which 
is  situated  a  substantial  lighthouse. 


7 


Sixty  years  ago,  the  Seneca  nation  owned  the  entire  western 
portion  of  the  State  of  New- York,  and  the  right  of  preemption 
belonged  to  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  Oliver  Phelps  pur¬ 
chased  his  right  in  1787,  and  in  June,  178S,  he  met  the  Senecas 
at  Buffalo,  and  concluded  a  treaty,  by  which  they  conveyed  to 
him  the  territory  lying  between  the  preemption  line  and  the 
Genesee  river,  and  a  strip  of  land  on  the  west  bank  of  the  river, 
twelve  miles  wide  and  about  twenty  miles  in  depth  from  its 
mouth.  This  acquisition  is  now  known  as  Phelps’  and  Gor¬ 
ham’s  purchase.  At  this  time  we  have  no  record  of  any  white 
man  inhabiting  this  region.  La  Rocliefaucold  Liancourt,  a 
French  nobleman,  visited  this  place,  then  known  as  Lake  Erie, 
in  1795,  and  speaks  of  an  inn,  where  he  was  obliged  to  sleep  on 
the  floor  in  his  clothes,  and  in  which  there  was  neither  u  furni¬ 
ture,  refreshment,  rum,  candles,  or  milk.”  The  village  rapidly 
rose  into  consequence  a  short  time  after  this,  when  it  was  sud¬ 
denly  doomed  to  destruction.  On  30th  December,  1813,  the 
British,  to  avenge  the  burning  of  Kingston,  crossed  the  river  at 
Black  Rock,  and  took  and  burned  it,  in  spite  of  the  gallant  re¬ 
sistance  offered  by  the  inhabitants.  So  complete  was  the  destruc¬ 
tion  that  only  two  dwellings  were  left  unconsumed.  The  re¬ 
building  of  the  place  was  not  commenced  until  1815.  The 
population,  in  1811,  was  estimated  at  500  ;  in  February,  1848, 
it  was  carefully  enumerated,  and  found  to  be  over  40,000  ;  so 
that  in  1850  it  will  probably  contain  50,000  souls.  The  act 
incorporating  the  city  of  Buffalo  wras  passed  April  20th,  1832 ; 
but  it  may  date  its  great  and  increasing  prosperity  from  the 
completion  of  the  Erie  Canal,  in  1825.  Though  a  brief  space 
has  elapsed  since  the  first  settlement  took  place,  its  commerce 
and  consequent  opulence  have  increased  to  such  a  degree  that 
it  may  be  confidently  believed  that  Buffalo  is  destined  to  be 
one  of  the  greatest  cities  of  the  Union.  She  well  merits  the  ap¬ 
pellation  of  the  “  Queen  City  of  the  Lakes.” 

Having  completed  our  view  of  Buffalo,  we  must  take  leave 
of  the  beautiful  Lake,  and  enter  the  renowned  Niagara  River, 
which  is  the  outlet  of  Lake  Erie;  and,  instead  of  sailing  down 
the  river  and  viewing  one  shore  only,  we  will  land  at  Fort  Erie, 
on  the  Canadian  shore,  and  walk  along  the  banks  the  whole 
length  of  the  river,  thirty -fnree  miles,  which  will  bring  us  to 


/ 


8 

Lake  Ontario.  By  adopting  this  method,  we  gain  the  import¬ 
ant  point  of  enabling  the  spectator  to  view  both  the  American 
and  Canadian  shores,  with  the  beautiful  river  flowing  between 
them,  and  all  embraced  in  one  view.  It  is  true,  the  walk  will 
be  somewhat  lengthy  ;  and  in  many  places  we  shall  be  compel¬ 
led  to  encounter  severe  fatigue  and  imminent  danger,  some¬ 
times  descending,  at  other  times  climbing,  the  rugged  sides  ot 
cliffs  from  two  to  five  hundred  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  river, 
and  clinging  to  shrubs  or  twigs,  and  assisting  each  other  from 
spots  where  the  foot  will  hardly  find  a  resting-place.  Remem¬ 
ber,  while  performing  these  feats,  we  are  often  hanging  over 
the  wild  and  roaring  rapids  ;  but  there  is  no  other  way  of  view¬ 
ing  the  Niagara  River  to  advantage,  for  the  reader  must  bear 
in  mind  that  no  steamboat,  or  other  sailing  craft,  can  or  dare 
venture  to  descend  the  angry  stream  farther  than  Chippewa 
landing,  which  is  only  twenty  miles  from  Buffalo.  We  shall 
of  course  suffer  the  penalties  of  a  difficult  enterprise  ;  but  even 
if  we  had  come  all  the  way  from  Europe  to  view  the  natural 
phenomena  of  this  extraordinary  river,  the  novelty  and  gran¬ 
deur  would  be  sufficient  compensation  for  the  voyage. 

FORT  ERIE. 

Now  a  mass  of  ruins,  at  the  foot  of  the  Lake,  and  immediate¬ 
ly  opposite  to  Buffalo,  now  comes  in  full  view.  It  was  captured 
by  the  Americans,  July  3d,  1814.  A  very  strong  fortification, 
belonging  to  the  United  States,  on  a  rising  ground  about  a  mile 
and  a  half  north  of  the  city  of  Buffalo,  and  half  way  to  Black 
Rock,  is  now  before  the  eye,  at  which  place  there  is  an  exten¬ 
sive  stone  pier  or  dam,  affording  immense  water  power,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  serving  as  a  feeder  to  the  Erie  Canal.  A  steam 
ferryboat  runs  from  Black  Rock  to  the  village  of  Waterloo,  on 
the  opposite  shore  of  Canada.  The  Erie  Canal,  crowded  with 
boats  containing  the  rich  produce  of  the  western  prairies,  runs 
parallel  with,  and  at  a  short  distance  from,  the  banks  of  the 
Niagara  rver.  It  is  in  view  from  Buffalo  to  Tonawanda,  nine 
miles,  and  forms  a  pleasing  and  animated  feature  in  the  land¬ 
scape,  especially  as  its  surface  is  six  feet  higher  than  the  river, 
caused  by  the  dam  at  Black  Rock. 


9 


THE  NIAGARA  RIVER, 

Thirty-three  miles  long,  is,  at  Fort  Erie,  about  a  mile  wide. 
It  passes  through  a  country  of  the  most  fertile,  and  at  the  same 
time  of  the  wildest  and  most  romantic  character,  and  in  its  short 
and  rapid  course  presents  the  sublime  spectacle  of  all  the  super¬ 
abundant  waiters  of  the  great  Lakes  rushing  along  its  narrow 
channel  in  one  immense  body,  in  its  way  to  join  the  ocean.  The 
first  vessel  that  ever  navigated  the  inland  seas  of  America,  was 
built  by  La  Salle,  a  Frenchman,  in  1678,  at  the  mouth  of  a  small 
creek  (supposed  to  be  the  Cayuga),  six  miles  above  the  Falls. 
After  many  unsuccessful  attempts,  the  vessel,  which  was  of  sixty 
tons  burden,  ascended  the  current  into  Lake  Erie,  by  the  com¬ 
bined  aid  of  tow-lines  and  sails,  on  the  7th  August,  1679.  They 
sailed  through  a  lake  to  which  La  Salle  gave  the  name  of  St. 
Clair,  and  after  encountering  a  violent  storm  in  Lake  Huron, 
they  passed  into  Lake  Michigan,  and  landed  at  the  mouth  of 
Green  Bay.  He  sent  back  the  vessel  laden  with  rich  furs, 
valued  at  60,000  livres,  in  charge  of  the  pilot  and  five  men  ;  but 
they  never  reached  the  Niagara,  and  were  supposed  to  have 
foundered  in  Lake  Huron.  The  sloop  Detroit,  of  seventy  tons, 
built  in  1796,  was  the  first  vessel  bearing  the  American  flag 
upon  Lake  Erie  ;  and,  in  1818,  the  first  steamboat,  “  Walk  in 
the  Water,”  was  built  at  Black  Bock ;  at  which  time  the  whole 
number  of  vessels  on  the  upper  Lakes  consisted  of  thirty  sail. 

Descending  the  Niagara,  we  come  to  Grand  Island,  belong¬ 
ing  to  the  United  States  ;  a  splendid  tract  of  land  covered  with, 
noble  forest  trees.  The  white  oak  here  is  considered  to  be  of 
superior  quality  for  shipbuilding. 

CHIPPEWA 

Is  twenty  miles  below  Buffalo,  and  two  miles  above  the  Falls; 
it  is  situated  at  the  mouth  of  a  creek,  which  is  navigable  about 
eight  miles,  to  the  Welland  Canal.  This  village  is  noted  for  the 
sanguinary  battle  which  was  fought  on  5th  July,  1814,  on  the 
plains,  a  short  distance  from  the  landing.  The  American  forceg 
were  commanded  by  Major  General  Brown,  the  English  by 
Major  General  Biall,  who  was  defeated  with  considerable  loss. 
The  night  before  the  battle,  the  American  army  crossed  the 
bridge,  and  encamped  by  the  shattered  old,  house  shown  in  the 


10 


foreground  of  this  painting .  Almost  the  entire  ground  where 
this  desperate  and  bloody  battle  was  fought,  is  depicted  on  the 
canvas.  One  of  the  corner  posts  of  the  house  aforesaid  was 
carried  away  by  a  cannon  shot  fired  by  the  patriots  or  sympathiz¬ 
ers  while  in  possession  of  Navy  Island,  which  is  directly  opposite. 
We  have  here  the  celebrated  Slater  House ,  in  wkiqh  a  man  was 
killed,  by  a  cannon  shot  fired  by  the  same  force,  whilst  lying  in 
bed.  Many  shots  were  fired  through  this  house  and  barn,  by 
the  soi-disant patriots,  although  it  was  well  known  that  a  quiet 
and  respectable  family  occupied  it.  Also  the  ruins  of  the  Eng¬ 
lish  batteries  are  seen,  and  the  abutments  of  the  bridge  which 
crossed  the  Chippewa  Creek,  and  which  was  destroyed  by  the 
British,  in  1814,  to  prevent  the  Americans  from  crossing.  A 
railroad  extends  from  Chippewa  to  Queenston,  a  distance  of  ten 
miles.  Steam  navigation  ends  at  Chippewa. 

NAVY  ISLAND, 

The  noted  fortress  of  the  patriots  in  the  late  insurrection  of 
1837-8,  lies  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Chippewa,  and  near 
Grand  Island,  but  is  inferior  to  the  latter  in  size  and  richness  of 
soil.  Below  this  and  at  Schlosser  landing,  the  river  expands  to 
more  than  two  miles  in  width,  but  suddenly  contracts  to  less 
than  a  mile. 

Here  the  Great  Rapids  commence,  the  current  increasing 
from  five  to  twenty  miles  per  hour.  Noted  as  the  Canadian 
boatmen  are  for  their  intrepidity,  they  dare  not  venture  farther 
down.  Mrs.  Jamieson,  in  her  pleasing  work  on  Canada,  thus 
graphically  describes  the  rapids.  “  The  whole  mighty  river 
comes  rushing  over  the  brow  of  a  hill;  and,  as  you  look  up,  it 
seems  as  if  coming  down  to  overwhelm  you  ;  then  meeting  with 
the  rocks  as  it  pours  down  the  declivity,  it  boils  and  frets  like 
the  breakers  of  the  ocean.  Hugh  mounds  of  water,  smooth, 
transparent,  and  gleaming  like  an  emerald,  rise  up  and  bound 
over  some  impediment,  then  break  into  silver  foam,  which  leaps 
into  the  air  in  the  most  graceful  and  fantastic  forms.” 

Here  the  noise  of  the  Falls  is  distinctly  heard,  resembling 
the  roar  of  the  sea  breaking  on  the  shore  ;  and  a  column  of  mist 
is  seen  hovering  over  the  rapid  stream  in  the  distance.  Below, 
the  river  bends  to  the  east,  and  is  divided  by  Iris  Island,  com¬ 
monly  called  Goat  Island,  leaving*  however,  by 'far  the  greater 


11 


body  of  water  on  the  Canadian  side.  This  island,  which  divides, 
and  perhaps  adds  to  the  beauty  and  sublimity  of  the  Falls,  is 
three  hundred  and  thirty  yards  wide,  and  is  covered  with  noble 
forest  trees  and  a  luxuriant  vegetation. 

This  island  extends  to  and  forms  part  of  the  precipice,  thus 
dividing  the  cataract  into  two  distinct  Falls.  Again,  the  smaller 
cascade  is  divided  by  Prospect  Island ;  so  that  the  Cataract 
of  Niagara  consists  of  the  British  or  Horse-Shoe  Fall,  be¬ 
tween  the  Canadian  shore  and  Iris  Island  ;  the  Central  Fall,  be¬ 
tween  Iris  Island  and  Prospect  Island  ;  and  the  American  Fall, 
between  Prospect  Island  and  the  American  shore.  The  width 
of  the  first  Fall  is  about  700  yards;  of  the  second,  20  yards  ; 
and  of  the  third,  330  yards.  And  the  whole  breadth  of  the 
Cataract,  including  Prospect  and  Iris  Islands,  is  rather  more 
than  1,400  yards,  from  the  Canadian  to  the  American  side. 
The  perpendicular  descent  is,  at  different  points,  variously  es¬ 
timated  from  158  to  164  feet.  The  largest  portion  of  the  river 
flows  in  an  almost  unbroken  sheet  over  the  Horse-Shoe  Fall. 

Many  attempts  have  been  made,  in  prose  and  verse,  by  the 
most  talented  writers,  to  describe  the  Falls  of  Niagara  ;  but 
none  of  them  have  succeeded  in  expressing  that  overwhelming 
sense  of  the  presence  of  Omnipotence,  and  the  soul-subduing  awe 
which  oppresses  the  mind  of  the  contemplative  spectator.  In 
fact,  words  are  insufficient  to  paint  this  great  and  wonderful 
work  of  the  Creator  of  all  things  : — 

■“  Here  speaks  the  voice  of  God !  Let  man  be  dumb, 

Nor  with  his  vain  aspirings  hither  come; 

That  voice  impels  these  hollow-sounding  floods, 

And  like  a  presence  fills  the  distant  woods. 

These  groaning  rocks  th’  Almighty’s  fingers  piled; 

.For  ages,  here  His  painted  bow  has  smiled, 

Marking  the  changes  and  the  chance  of  time — 

Eternal — beautiful — serene— sublime  ?” 

The  minds  of  all  who  behold  the  mighty  cataract  for  the  first 
time,  are  agitated  by  a  variety  of  conflicting  emotions.  The 
sound  of  this  immense  volume  of  water  descending  from  a  vast 
height,  causes  a  palpable  concussion  of  the  air ;  the  ground 
trembles  beneath  the  feet,  and  the  scene  conjures  up  strange 
phantoms  in  the  imagination.  Each  is  affected  according  to  his 
natural  temperament.  The  bold  and  ardent  youth  hears,  in  the 


12 


voice  of  the  resistless  flood,  the  sound  of  strife  and  battle — the 
shouts  of  the  victors  and  the  groans  of  the  dying.  The  poet 
beholds  visions  of  unearthly  beauty  in  the  wreathing  mist,  and 
music,  sweet  as  the  harps  before  the  throne  of  the  Eternal, 
salutes  his  ear.  But  all  confess  a  feeling  of  awe  and  veneration,, 
such  as  is  sometimes  felt  whilst  sailing  at  night  upon  the  track¬ 
less  ocean.  The  never-ceasing  down-pouring  of  the  mighty 
flood  absorbs  all  the  faculties  of  the  mind,  and  hours  pass  un¬ 
heeded  whilst  we  stand  ruminating  over  its  mysteries.  The 
cloudy  column  rises  by  night  and  day ;  the  covenant  rainbow 
on  its  glowing  brow  shines  ever  in  the  sun ;  and  when  the 
moon’s  unclouded  radiance  softens  all  the  scene,  still  gleams  the 
bow  of  promise  there,  lifting  our  thoughts  from  earth  to  heaven, 
and  waking  memories  full  of  sweet  harmonies,  as  vesper  hymns 
from  some  white  convent  in  the  distant  hills  ! 

In  plain  parlance ,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  form  a  concep¬ 
tion  of  the  volume  of  water  passing  by  the  Niagara  river  over 
the  Falls  ;  yet  below  Montreal  the  stream  of  the  St.  Lawrence, 
which  is  a  continuation  of  Niagara,  is  twice  as  great  as  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Falls  ;  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Saguenay 
the  volume  of  fresh  water,  which  the  great  river  of  Canada 
rolls  towards  the  sea,  is  perhaps  more  than  equal  to  the  aggre¬ 
gate  of  all  the  rivers  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  from  the  Gulf  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  ;  including  even  the  Missis¬ 
sippi,  which  some  writers  have  gone  so  far  as  to  name  the 
“  Father  of  Rivers.”  In  a  word,  the  whole  region  drained  by 
the  St.  Lawrence  is  one  of  great  lakes,  numberless  fountains, 
and  deep  and  rapid  rivers,  never  exhausted  by  the  sun.  It  has 
been  estimated  by  Dr.  Dwight,  that  28,359  tons  of  water  are 
precipitated  over  the  cataract  per  second. 

There  are  many  objects  of  interest  connected  with  the  Falls, 
which  can  be  merely  enumerated,  in  this  pamphlet.  At  the  foot 
cl’ the  Canadian  Fall  a  ledv-e  of  rock  leads  into  a  cavern  behind 

O 

the  sheet  of  water,  called  the  “Cavern  of  the  Winds.”  The 
darkness,  and  the  strong  wind  blowing  the  spray  over  the  in¬ 
truders,  render  its  exploration  a  difficult  adventure  for  weak 
nerves.  The  whole  region  about  the  Falls,  especially  below, 
is  unique  and  full  of  points  of  history  and  wild  romance. 
In  the  immediate  neighborhood,  the  tourist  should  visit  Niagara 


13 


Tillage,  on  the  American  shore,  the  “  Burning  Springs,”  and 
Lundy’s  Lane  Battle  Ground,  on  the  Canadian  side.  That  par¬ 
ties  visiting  the  Falls  may  have^the  means  of  viewing  them  in 
every  possible  manner,  and  to  add  to  the  excitement  of  this 
already  exciting  spectacle,  a  small  steamboat,  named  the  “  Maid 
of  the  Mist,”  carries  a  living  freight  of  delighted,  and  we  may 
add,  fear-stricken  passengers  along  the  base  of  the  American 
and  Canadian  Falls,  to  be  drenched  with  the  spray  of  the  de¬ 
scending  waters — a  shower-bath  on  a  gigantic  scale!  Really, 
as  we  stand  on  the  Canadian  shore  and  look  dowm  a  chasm  of 
near  two  hundred  feet  upon  this  audacious  little  craft  loaded 
With  human  beings,  rolling  and  pitching  in  the  white-capped 
surges,  and  close  to  the  base  of  the  great  cataract — at  one  mo¬ 
ment,  completely  enveloped  in  clouds  of  mist — the  next,  break¬ 
ing  into  view,  surrounded  by  playful  rainbows — we  wonder  at 
the  temerity  of  those  who  would  incur  such  risk  for  the  mere 
pleasure  of  enjoying  a  new  sensation. 

On  the  American  side,  and  just  above  the  cataract,  is  the 
pretty  village  of  Niagara  Falls,  wPich  was  laid  out  in  1805  by 
Judge  Porter,  wrho  is  the  principal  proprietor.  Here  the  Cata¬ 
ract  House,  delightfully  situated  on  the  brink  of  the  rapids,  of¬ 
fers  excellent  accommodation  for  travelers  whilst  sojourning  at 
the  Falls.  On  the  Canada  side,  the  City  of  the  Falls — and 
Clifton  Tillage,  a  salubrious  and  pleasant  retreat — offer  great 
attractions  to  those  in  search  of  health.  At  the  latter  place,  the 
celebrated  and  elegant  “Clifton  House,”  with  its  triple  colon¬ 
nade,  looms  up  in  the  foreground  ;  its  numerous  guests  enjoying 
a  full  view  of  the  splendid  cataract  from  the  balconies.  The 
road  passing  in  front  of  this  hotel  leads  directly  to  the  battle¬ 
ground  of  “  Lundy’s  Lane.”  This  battle  wras  one  of  the  most 
bloody  conflicts  that  occurred  during  the  last  war.  The  gallant 
General  Scott,  who  has  lately  gathered  fresh  laurels  in  Mexico, 
participated  in  the  action.  General  Riall,  of  the  English  army, 
was  captured,  and  the  possession  of  the  battle-ground  was  stub¬ 
bornly  contested  until  near  midnight,  when,  1,700  men  being 
either  killed  or  wounded,  the  conflicting  armies,  as  if  by  mu¬ 
tual  consent,  ceased  the  deadly  strife,  and  the  bloody  field  re¬ 
mained  in  the  possession  of  the  dead  and  dying. 


14 


THE  SUSPENSION  BRIDGE- 

We  now  approach  the  Whirlpool  Rapids,  across  whose  whirl¬ 
ing  vortex  is  thrown  a  suspenfion  bridge,  which  is  nowT  in  view. 
Its  wires — the  first  having  been  thrown  across  by  means  of  a 
kite — bind  the  two  nations  together,  as  it  were ;  for  they  are 
here  the  only  means  of  communication  with  the  opposite  shore 
that  ingenuity '  could  possibly  devise.  The  cliffs  upon  which 
the  towers  rest  are  two  hundred  and  ten  feet  above  the  river, 
and  the  towers  are  fifty-two  feet  above  the  cliffs.  The  bridge 
is  upheld  by  nine  cables — four  on  the  north,  and  five  on  the 
south  side — having  a  sag  of  fifty  feet,  and  can  sustain  a  weight 
of  seventy  tons.  The  bridge  is  only  a  mile  and  a  half  below  the 
Falls.  Mr.  Charles  Elliot  was  the  engineer,  and  is  one  of  the 
proprietors.  When  the  drawings  were  made,  only  one  wire  was 
thrown  across  the  chasm,  and  the  proprietor  of  the  Mirror  cross¬ 
ed  in  a  car,  accompanied  by  the  engineer,  from  the  Canadian  to 
the  American  shore,  and  returned — the  car  being  suspended  two 
hundred  and  thirty-four  feet  above  the  level  of  the  river.  The 
length  of  the  span  is  seven  hundred  and  sixty-two  feet.  The 
great  Whirlpool  beneath,  and  the  single  wire  above,  made  the 
passage  very  exciting.  The  river  is  here  pent  up  between  lofty 
and  perpendicular  cliffs ;  the  current,  impatient  of  restraint, 
rushes  between  them  with  lightning  speed,  until  suddenly  ar¬ 
rested  in  its  headlong  career  by  a  bend  in  the  precipitous  em¬ 
bankment,  it  is  forced  completely  across  the  mouth  of  the  outlet; 
again  and  again  it  is  drawn  from  its  course  and  carried  round, 
until,  with  frightful  efforts,  it  at  length  bursts  out  from  the 
foundations  of  its  prison-house,  and  dashes  forth,  with  loud  and 
exulting  cries,  to  mingle  its  waters  with  Lake  Ontario.  Trunks 
of  trees,  timbers,  and  sometimes  dead  bodies  of  human  beings 
and  animals,  are  drawn  into  its  vortex,  and  whirl  round  in  the 
infernal  cauldron  in  a  terrible  and  mystic  dance,  until  chafed, 
•broken  up,  and  decomposed  by  the  action  of  the  waters,  they 
finally  disappear. 

Let  no  tourist  return  from  the  Falls  till  he  has  seen  the 
Whirlpool.  He  has  seen  nothing  of  Niagara  river  till  he  has 
seen  that.  Seen  from  the  right  point  of  view  it  is  even  a  greater 
wonder  than  the  cataract.  To  make  the  most  of  your  visit  to 
this  scene  of  unimagined  sublimity,  commence  your  walk  from 


15 


the  Falls  on  the  American  side,  cross  on  the  Suspension  Bridge, 
and  pass  around  the  northern  verge  of  the  Whirlpool  to  Profile 
Rock,  on  the  Canada  side.  Then  descend  the  cliff  directly  at 
the  right  of  the  Profile  Rock  quite  down  to  the  water.  Then 
view  the  scene  which  surrounds  you  for  a  moment,  after  which 
you  will  pass  along  near  the  margin  of  the  flood,  leaping  from 
rock  to  rock  occasionally,  till  you  arrive  opposite  to  the  oirtlet 
of  the  Whirlpool.  You  will  there  find  a  large  shelving  rock  six 
or  eight  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  water,  on  which  you  will 
please  be  seated.  (It  is  celebrated  as  the  rock  on  which  Mr.  Burr 
and  his  companion,  Mr.  Barnes,  sat  while  taking  drawings  for 
the  Seven  Mile  Mirror.)  There  you  have  before  you  truly  a 
wild  and  awful  “hell  of  waters.”  Opposite  is  the  majestic 
Profile  Rock  and  the  outlet,  with  the  Devil’s  Hole  in  the  distance 
on  the  right.  You  may  also,  if  you  please,  look  over  head  ;  and 
if  a  few  large  rattlesnakes  should  happen  to  drop  from  the  trees 
or  projecting  rocks,  two  or  four  hundred  feet  above  you,  don’t 
be  so  frightened  as  to  jump  into  the  Whirlpool,  as  the  Proprietor 
and  his  companion  came  near  doing,  when  two  of  the  reptiles 
came  tumbling  down  upon  them  as  they  were  drawing,  on  this 
rock,  for  the  Mirror.  After  satisfying  yourself  with  all  that  can 
be  seen  and  felt  from  this  famous  rock,  return  by  the  way  yon 
came — for  there  is  no  choice — to  the  base  of  Profile  Rock,  and 
continue  your  walk  near  the  margin  of  the  water,  down  stream, 
past  the  Devil’s  Hole  and  Hewletti’s  Cellar,  leaping  the  chasms 
as  you  can,  till  you  reach  Queenston  Heights  and  Village,  only 
two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Whirlpool ;  and  you  will  then  have 
followed  exactly  the  Artist’s  track  in  drawing  for  this  portion  of 
his  Mirror ;  and  you  will  then  be  able  to  judge  of  his  labors  and 
difficulties,  and  whether  it  is  true  that  one  has  seen  nothing  of 
the  Niagara  river  till  he  has  seen  the  Whirlpool. 

Half  a  mile  below  the  Whirlpool,  a  dark  chasm  in  the  pre¬ 
cipitous  bank  meets  our  view.  This  is  known  as  the  “  DeviVs 
Hole .”  A  small  stream,  called  the  Bloody  Run,  empties  into 
this  fearful  gulf.  It  is  memorable  as  the  scene  of  a  dreadful 
tragedy.  In  1750,  during  the  war  with  the  French,  a  supply  of 
provisions  and  ammunition  was  sent  from  Fort  Niagara  to  Fort 
Schlosser,  escorted  by  one  hundred  British  soldiers.  As  no  sus¬ 
picion  was  entertained  of  any  hostile  force  being  in  the  vicinity, 


16 


tlie  men  marched  listlessly  and  securely  by  the  side  of  the  pon¬ 
derous  wagons.  On  arriving  at  the  “  Devil’s  Hole,”  a  tremendous 
volley  was  suddenly  poured  into  them,  and  the  terrific  yells  of 
several  hundred  Seneca  Indians,  allies  of  the  French,  drowned 
even  the  roar  of  Niagara.  The  knife,  rifle,  and  tomahawk  did 
their  work  on  the  panic-stricken  escort  before  they  had  time  to 
defend  themselves.  The  red  warriors  finished  by  throwing  over 
the  bank,  horses,  wagons,  and  dying  soldiers.  Only  two  of  the 
British  party  escaped.  The  little  stream  ran  crimson  with  human 
gore,  and  thus  obtained  its  cognomen.  Two  miles  below  the 
Whirlpool,  Hewletti’s  Cellar,  a  most  singular  natural  excavation 
in  the  rock,  fifteen  feet  below  the  top  of  the  bank,  is  worthy  <§f 
examination.  The  country  now  exhibits  a  series  of  abrupt  and 
elevated  ridges,  called  Queenston  Heights,  the  banks  on  both 
sides  reaching  an  altitude  of  seven  hundred  feet,  supposed  to 
have  been  the  site  of  the  Falls  in  former  ages.  This  place  is 
also  celebrated  as  being  the  scene  of  a  deadly  contest  between 
the  American  and  British  forces,  October  13, 1812.  The  Ame¬ 
ricans  were  commanded  by  General  Solomon  Van  Rensselaer , 
and  both  the  troops  and  their  commander  distinguished  them¬ 
selves  by  their  bravery,  though  finally  overpowered  by  numbers. 
General  Brock ,  the  British  commander,  was  killed  while  leading 
on  his  men.  A  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  this  brave 
soldier,  who  was  respected  even  by  his  foes,  stands  on  a  lofty 
and  commanding  situation.  It  is  now,  however,  shattered  and 
defaced.  In  April,  1840,  some  pitiful  scoundrel  attempted  to 
destroy  it  with  gunpowder,  and  partially  succeeded.  This  monu¬ 
ment,  and  the  tree  under  which  General  Brock  breathed  his  last, 
are  prominent  objects  in  this  picture.  At  the  foot  of  the  height 
is  the  romantic  village  of  Queenston,  where  the  Niagara  again 
becomes  navigable.  On  the  opposite  or  American  shore  is  Lewis¬ 
ton.  The  shores  now  suddenly  descend  to  nearly  the  level  of  the 
river,  and  a  verdant  plain  extends  to  Lake  Ontario.  Still  further 
down,  you  approach  the  town  of  Niagara.  It  contains  many 
fine  buildings,  and  has  a  population  of  about  four  thousand  per¬ 
sons.  Here  is  a  large  dock-yard,  with  marine  railway  and 
foundry,  where  have  been  built  most  of  the  steamers  now  navi¬ 
gating  Lake  Ontario.  It  was  formerly  called  Newark,  and  was 
burnt  by  the  American  forces  under  General  McClure,  in  1813. 


17 


Fort  George  is  seen  first  above  the  town,  dismantled  and  in 
ruins.  Fort  Massasauga  guards  the  outlet  of  the  river,  on  the 
Canadian  side  ;  and  on  the  opposite  shore  the  Americans  have 
a  strong  fort,  called  Fort  Niagara ,  over  whose  ramparts  the 
.French,  English,  and  American  flags  have  waved  in  succession  ; 
and  between  these  grim  and  frowning  sentinels  we  enter 

LAKE  ONTARIO, 

Called  “  The  Beautiful which  is  five  hundred  miles  round  ; 
the  length  measuring  three  times  the  breadth,  and  its  surface 
being  231  feet  above  -the  level  of  the  Atlantic.  The  largest 
ships  may  sail  throughout  the  whole  extent.  In  many  parts,  a 
line  of  six  hundred  feet  has  not  reached  the  bottom :  owing 
to  this  great  depth,  it  never  freezes,  except  where  the  water  is 
shallow  along  the  shore.  We  are  now  upon  the  sparkling 
waves  of  this  magnificent  Lake ;  and  steering  to  the  westward, 
along  the  Canadian  shore,  we  pass  Port  Dalhousie ,  the  entrance 
of  the  Wellancl  Canal.  This  canal  is  a  work  of  great  magni¬ 
tude,  constructed  in  the  most  substantial  manner,  at  the  expense 
of  the  British  government.  It  is  twenty-eight  miles  long,  has 
twenty-two  locks  of  granite,  and  ships  and  propellers  of  about 
500  tons  burthen  can  thus  pass  and  repass  from  Lake  Ontario  to 
Lake  Erie  ;  which  makes  ship  navigation  complete  from  the 
head  of  the  great  Lakes  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Continuing  our 
voyage  westward,  we  approach  the  flourishing 

CITY  OF  HAMILTON, 

Which  contains  about  7,000  inhabitants,  standing  on  Burling¬ 
ton  Bay,  and  situated  at  the  head  of  the  Lake.  No  place  in 
Canada  is  more  distinguished  for  commercial  enterprise.  In  the 
rear  of  Hamilton  is  a  range  of  heights,  a  continuation  of  the 
ridge  from  Queenston  Heights,  and  supposed  to  have  been  for¬ 
merly  the  boundary  of  Lake  Ontario  in  this  direction.  From 
this  point  is  seen  Jdundren  Castle ,  the  seat  of  Sir  Allen  McNab, 
well  known  in  Canadian  history.  Our  course  now  takes  us 
down  the  Lake  towards  the  northeast,  the  shores  exhibiting 
scenery  of  a  pleasant  and  pastoral  character ;  and  the  pretty 

CITY  OF  TORONTO 

Meets  our  view.  It  is  distant  forty-two  miles  from  Hamilton, 
contains  about  twenty-five  thousand  inhabitants,  and  is  the  third 

2 


18 


place  in  point  of  population  in  Canada.  It  is  delightfully  situ¬ 
ated  on  a  bay  formed  by  a  low,  sandy  peninsula  called  Gibral- 
ter  Point,  and  has  the  only  natural  harbor  to  be  found  on  the 
Canadian  side  of  the  Lake.  In  1793,  Gov.  General  Simcoe 
caused  this  harbor  to  be  surveyed,  and  founded  the  town,  then 
called  Little  York.  Two  Indians  of  the  Massasauga  tribe  were 
at  that  time  in  quite  possession,  and  myriads  of  wild  fowl 
crowded  the  waters  of  the  bay.  In  1813,  General  Pike,  with  a 
small  body  of  Americans,  captured  and  burned  it ;  General  Pike 
being  killed  by  the  explosion  of  a  magazine.  After  the  peace 
it  was  rebuilt,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  the  old  Indian 
word  Toronto — signifying  “  The  Place  of  Council.'1'1  It  is  a 
rapidly  rising  place,  thoroughly  English  in  appearance,  and 
well  paved  and  lighted ;  the  houses  and  public  buildings  are 
constructed  in  a  substantial  and  elegant  manner. 

The  towns  of  Poet  Hope,  Coburg,  and  other  places  of  less 
note,  are  now  shown  on  the  painting ;  and  Snake  Island  meets 
the  view,  situated  in  mid-channel.  You  have  a  view  of  the 
large  penitentiary  of  the  Province,  as  you  approach 

KINGSTON. 

This  city  presents  a  most  imposing  appearance  from  the  Lake, 
surrounded  by  martello  towers  and  fortifications,  lately  erect¬ 
ed,  at  an  immense  cost,  by  the  British  government.  It  is  pleas¬ 
antly  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  Lake,  one  hundred  and  eighty 
miles  from  Hamilton,  on  the  site  of  Fort  Frontenac ,  which  was 
built  by  the  French,  in  1672.  On  a  high  rocky  ridge,  forming 
the  east  side  of  Havy  Bay,  and  extending  half  a  mile  into  the 
Lake  is  Fort  Henry ,  a  place  of  great  strength,  commanding  the 
city,  the  harbor,  and  all  the  approaches  to  them,  both  by  land 
and  water.  The  Rideau  Canal ,  a  most  important  work,  which 
commences  at  Bytown ,  on  the  River  Ottawa,  terminates  here, 
after  a  course  of  over  one  hundred  miles.  Steamboats  and 
other  craft  were  by  this  means  enabled  to  ascend  from  the  St. 
Lawrence,  avoiding  the  several  rapids  ;  but  the  completion  of 
the  several  canals  around  the  rapids  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  has  de¬ 
prived  the  Rideau  of  much  of  its  former  business. 

Kingston  was  chartered  as  a  city  in  1840,  and  now  contains 
over  12,000  inhabitants.  It  possesses,  besides  several  other 
fine  public  buildings,  a  splendid  Town  Hall  and  Market , — and, 


19 


nextf  to  Quebec  and  Halifax,  is  considered  the  strongest  militarj 
position  in  North  America. 

Leaving  Kingston,  we  now  enter  upon  the  great 

RIVER  ST.  LAWRENCE. 

And  here  let  the  reader  remember,  that  this  river  really  has 
its  source  seven  hundred  miles  northwest  of  Lake  Superior,  in 
the  Lake  of  Woods,  whence  it  flows  through  a  long  chain  of 
lakes,  before  it  expands  successively  into  the  immense  fresh 
water  seas  of  Superior,  Huron,  Erie,  and  Ontario.  Below 
Kingston  it  regains  the  character  of  a  river,  and  continues  in  an 
uninterrupted  course  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  Floating  along 
the  stream,  which  is  here  from  twelve  to  fifteen  miles  wide,  we 
find  ourselves  surrounded  by  the 

THOUSAND  ISLANDS. 

The  largest  are  from  eight  to  twelve  miles  in  length,  and 
three  to  five  miles  in  breadth ;  the  smallest  not  an  acre  in  ex¬ 
tent.  Though  this  extensive  group  bears  the  name  of  the 
Thousand  Isles,  there  are  more  than  1,500  of  them,  forming  a 
perpetual  succession  of  the  most  romantically  beautiful  and 
picturesque  objects  that  can  be  imagined.  The  traveler  is 
spell  bound,  whilst  viewing  these  matchless  combinations  of 
rock,  wood,  and  water  : — 

“  Hail,  Lake  of  Thousand  Isles! 

Which  clustered  lie  within  thy  circling  arms, 

Their  flower-strewn  shores  kissed  by  the  silver  tide ! 

As  fair  art  thou  as  aught 

That  ever  in  the  lap  of  nature  lay.” 

Warburton,in  his  Hochelaga,  thus  describes  his  impressions 
whilst  gazing  on  this  fairy  scene : — • 

“Now  we  are  among  the  mazes  of  the  ‘Thousand  Islands,’ 
and  pass  so  close  to  some  of  them  that  we  can  pull  the  leaves 
from  the  bending  boughs  of  the  trees,  as  the  merciless  wheels 
of  the  steamer  dash  to  atoms  their  beautiful  reflection  in  the 
mirror  of  the  calm,  blue  water.  The  eye  does  not  weary  to  see, 
but  the  hand  aches  in  ever  writing  the  one  word,  beauty ; 
wherever  you  steer  over  this  great  river — beauty,  beauty  still?’ 

As  we  emerge  from  this  scene  of  enchantment,  the  river  con¬ 
tracts  to  about  two  miles  in  width.  The  scenery  is  constantly 
changing ;  at  one  moment,  white,  cultivated  fields  and  rura 


I 


20 


settlements  appear ;  at  the  next,  features  of  bold  outline  impart  a 
grandeur  and  variety  to  the  river  and  its  shores,  possessed  by  no 
other  stream  in  an  equal  degree.  Descending,  the  small  village 
of  Ganonnoqui  meets  our  view,  and  WelVs  Island ,  belonging  to 
the  United  States,  is  also  passed.  In  1838,  this  island  was  the 
scene  of  a  daring  act  of  piracy.  The  British  steamer  “  Sir  Ro¬ 
bert  Peel”  whilst  stopping  to  wood,  was  boarded  at  midnight 
by  a  band  of  armed  men,  who,  after  ordering  the  captain,  crew, 
and  passengers  ashore,  robbed  the  vessel  of  everything  valuable, 
and  set  her  on  fire.  The  celebrated  Bill  Johnson  was  suspected 
to  be  the  leader  of  the  gang.  Leaving  this  scene  of  outrage,  we 
arrive  at  Brockville,  one  of  the  prettiest  towns  in  Canada.  The 
houses  are  built  with  considerable  taste,  and  the  scenery  they 
command  is  exquisite.  Below,  the  small  village  of  Maitland 
is  seen ;  and  we  arrive  at  Prescott,  which  is  a  town  of  some 
importance,  possessing  a  population  of  some  4,000  inhabitants. 
Fort  Wellington ,  strongly  garrisoned,  commands  the  river. 
Windmill  Point ,  one  mile  below  Prescott ,  is  a  spot  made  mem¬ 
orable  during  the  late  rebellion.  In  November,  1838,  a  body  of 
American  sympathizers,  under  the  command  of  a  Pole  named 
Von  Schultz ,  landed  at  this  spot  to  aid  the  patriots.  They  took 
possession  of  the  windmill  and  some  stone  houses,  and  defended 
themselves,  fighting  desperately,  for  some  time  ;  but  the  British 
forces,  bringing  some  cannon  to  bear  upon  them,  rendered  their 
position  untenable,  and  the  survivors  were  compelled  to  surren¬ 
der.  The  leaders  suffered  death  on  the  gallows,  as  pirates ;  the 
others  were  sentenced  to  transportation  for  life  to  Van  Diemen’s 
Land,  but  have  since  been  pardoned  by  Queen  Victoria.  The 
windmill  and  roofless  houses,  shattered  by  the  artillery,  give 
fearful  evidence  to  the  spectator  of  the  murderous  conflict  which 
there  took  place.  Immediately  opposite  to  Prescott ,  and  con¬ 
nected  with  it  by  a  ferry,  is  Ogdensburgit  (which,  with  Pres¬ 
cott,  the  windmill,  &c.,  all  come  in  full  view  on  this  great 
painting),  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  Oswegatchie  Eiver ;  and 
as  it  appears  to  be  a  bustling,  go-ahead  town,  we  will  request 
the  reader  to  land  with  us,  and  take  a  bird’s-eye  view  of  the 
whole  city.  The  rising  sun  lights  up  the  various  streets,  and 
the  snug  dwellings  with  handsome  flower-gardens  attached. 
Even  at  this  early  hour,  the  mills  and  factories  appear  to  be  in 
full  operation  ;  the  venders  of  milk  are  serving  their  customers  ; 


21 


the  population  are  all  astir,  and  the  whole  place  has  the  appear¬ 
ance  of  thriving  industry  and  prosperity,  which  stamps  it  as 
belonging  to  Uncle  Sam’s  dominions.  Once  more  we  are  upon 
the  bosom  of  the  noble  river ;  and  confiding  in  the  skill  of  an 
experienced  pilot,  we  fearlessly  brave  the  “  Gallop  Rapids,” 
and,  hurried  through  the  plunging,  foaming  billows,  find  our¬ 
selves  again  in  smooth  water.  A  succession  of  these  danger¬ 
ous  rapids  extends  at  intervals  from  this  point  to  a  little  above 
Montreal ;  all  of  them  are,  however,  navigable  by  steamers  de¬ 
scending  ;  but  ascending,  they  are  obliged  to  pass  through  a 
series  of  Canals ,  which  have  been  constructed  all  along  the 
shores  of  the  river,  in  order  to  avoid  these  rapids.  Steam-pro¬ 
pellers,  and  other  craft,  freighted  with  the  produce  of  the  Far 
West,  are  enabled  to  make  their  transit  by  the  canals  from 
Lake  Superior  to  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  thence  across  the  At¬ 
lantic  to  Europe.  The  immense  crafts  of  timber  which  float 
down  this  great  river,  and  through  the  surging  rapids,  on  their 
way  to  Montreal  and  Quebec ,  are  objects  of  wonder  and  admir¬ 
ation  to  all  strangers.  Whilst  drifting  down  some  uninterrupted 
reach,  several  rafts,  attached  to  each  other  by  brackets  operating 
on  the  principle  of  a  swivel,  form  one  immense  raft,  often  a  mile 
in  length.  On  arriving  at  the  commencement  of  the  rapids,  the 
rafts  dissolve  partnership,  and  the  hardy  lumberers  ply  their 
long  sweeps  with  desperate  energy  until  the  danger  is  passed. 
Yet  it  often  happens  that,  in  spite  of  their  skill,  the  ponderous 
mass  of  timber  is  dashed  with  resistless  force  against  the  rocks 
hidden  by  the  foam  of  the  boiling  surges,  or  islands  that  inter¬ 
sect  the  furious  current  of  the  river.  Many  poor  fellows  meet  a 
watery  grave ;  whilst  the  logs  of  timber  and  the  sawn  lumber,  on 
which  so  much  labor  has  been  expended,  become  the  booty  of 
river  pirates,  always  on  the  alert  for  such  disasters.  A  great 
variety  of  these  rafts  in  different  situations  are  faithfully  por¬ 
trayed  on  the  painting  which  this  book  is  intended  to  accom¬ 
pany.  As  I  have  occasionally  mentioned  particular  objects,  as 
appearing  on  the  painting,  it  may  be  proper  to  state  that  the 
whole  range  of  scenery,  including  almost  every  object  and 
place,  however  minute,  on  both  shores  from  Lake  Erie  to  the 
Atlantic  Ocean,  is  depicted  with  the  same  care  and  truthful¬ 
ness  as  those  to  which  I  make  particular  allusion. 

The  country  is  now  of  a  quietly  undulating  character ;  cheer- 


22 


ful  villages  and  green  clearings  diversify  the  scenery.  Gliding 
by  Matilda’s  Landing,  one  of  the  entrances  of  the  St.  Lawrence 
Canal,  we  pass  successively  the  villages  of  East  and  West  Wil¬ 
liamsburg ,  and  then  for  several  miles  are  carried  through  the 
dangerous  rapids  of  the  Long  Sault.  Cornwall,  a  town  of 
some  importance,  containing  about  2,000  inhabitants,  and  situ¬ 
ated  at  the  lower  end  of  the  St.  Lawrence  Canal,  is  seen  ;  and 
four  miles  below,  on  the  American  side  of  the  river,  we  come 
to  the  Indian  village  of  St.  Regis ,  which  is  on  the  line  of  45 
degrees,  north  latitude.  Part  of  this  village  is  in  Canada  and  part 
in  the  United  States,  the  dividing  line  being  accurately  drawn 

on  the  foreground  of  the  Panorama ;  the  River  St.  Lawrence  be- 
.  .  .  .  ’  * 
low  this  point,  being  entirely  in  Canada.  Here,  on  a  small  por¬ 
tion  of  the  hunting  grounds  of  their  once  powerful  nation,  is  to 
be  found  a  settlement  of  the  Iroquois.  Many  of  the  men  ob¬ 
tain  a  precarious  subsistence  by  hunting ;  the  women  make 
mitts,  baskets,  and  moccasins.  The  Indian  boys  are  expert 
swimmers ;  and,  during  the  summer  season,  visitors  often  put 
their  skill  to  the  test  by  throwing  a  piece  of  money  into  the  riv¬ 
er  from  the  steamboat  landing,  when  half  a  dozen  of  the  little 
copper-colored  urchins  will  dive  in  after  it,  generally  succeeding 
in  catching  it  almost  before  it  reaches  the  bottom,  although 
sometimes  compelled  to  dive  the  depth  of  ten  or  twenty  feet. 
Passing  the  lighthouse,  we  enter  an  expansion  of  the  river  thirty 
miles  in  length  and  seven  in  breadth,  called  Lake  St.  Francis. 
On  the  shore  may  be  observed  a  large  cairn,  or  pile  of  stones, 
raised  by  the  Royal  Glengarry  Highlanders  in  honor  of  Sir  John 
Colborne,  formerly  Governor  General  of  Canada.  Lancaster 
another  convenient  steamboat  landing,  is  now  before  us.  It  is 
connected  by  a  road  with  the  celebrated  Caledonia  Springs, 
thirty  miles  distant.  The  dividing  line  of  the  two  provinces 
crossed,  we  now  arrive  at  the  village  of  Couteau  du  Lac ,  in  Low¬ 
er  Canada ,  or  Canada  East ,  as  it  is  generally  designated  by  the 
Canadians.  A  few  miles  further,  the  village  of  the  Cedars  is  pas¬ 
sed,  and  here  we  behold  the  mighty  St.  Lawi’ence  pent  into  seve¬ 
ral  narrow  channels,  among  wooded  islands,  and  rushing  fiercely 
along  over  its  rocky  b.ed  ;• — nothing  <^an  exceed  the  exciting  spec¬ 
tacle  of  the  Cedar  Rapids ,  with  its  frantic  billows  capped  with 
snowy  plumes.  The  islands  which  obstruct  the  current  of  the 
river  are  perfect  gems  of  beauty.  Nature,  in  one  of  her  love- 


23 


liest  freaks  has  sprinkled  them  with  flowers,  wreathed  them 
with  vines,  and  the  flowering  shrubs  and  trees  drop  their  leaves 
and  dip  their  branches  and  buds  in  the  angry  tide,  as  if  to  depre¬ 
cate  its  wrath.  Passengers  on  the  deck  of  the  passing  steamer 
may  often  be  seen  plucking  them  from  the  branches.  Steamboats 
pass  down  these  rapids,  though  not  without  risk,  as  maybe  im¬ 
agined,  when  the  rapid  current  sweeps  them  close  to  rocks  and 
islands,  which,  if  touched,  would  insure  destruction.  Latterly, 
however,  the  route  has  been  rendered  more  safe  by  the  discovery 
of  a  channel,  which,  it  is  said,  was  used  long  ago  by  the  French 
voyageurs.  In  the  Cedar  and  Cascade  Rapids  there  is  a  differ¬ 
ence  of  sixty  feet  in  the  elevation  in  about  sixteen  miles,  and  the 
immense  body  of  water  rushes  down  at  the  rate  of  from  twenty  to 
thirty  miles  per  hour.  To  ascend  against  this  current  would  be 
impossible;  therefore  vessels  of  every  description  pass  through 
the  Beauharnois  Canal ,  which  commences  at  the  village  of  that 
name,  sixteen  miles  below.  In  the  year  1759,  when  Gen.  Am¬ 
herst  entered  Canada,  his  advanced  guard,  of  about  300  men, 
embarked  above  the  Cedars ;  the  intention  was  to  float  down  and 
take  up  a  position  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  Perhapg 
these  dangerous  channels  were  but  little  known,  or  the  pilot 
played  them  false — none  survived  as  accusers;  the  next  day  the 
lifeless  bodies  of  the  British  soldiers ,  clothed  in  the  well-known 
red,  floating  past  Montreal ,  gave  the  first  notice  of  invasion. 
Leaving  behind  us  the  Cascade  Rapids ,  and  passing  the  light¬ 
house,  we  find  ourselves  upon  the  bosom  of  the  calm  and  glassy 
Lake  St.  Louis ,  another  expansion  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence 3 
two  and  a  half  miles  wide  at  this  point.  Here  the  St.  Lawrence 
receives  an  important  accession,  by  the  influx  of  one  branch  of 
the  great  River  Uttawas  or  Ottawa,  from  the  northwest.  Its 
immense  volume  of  water  (which  is  probably  fully  equal  to  the 
Ohio  River),  is  discharged  into  the  St.  Lawrence  through  three 
separate  and  distinct  channels,  the  last  of  which  is  about  twenty 
miles  below  Montreal ,  its  yellow,  clay-colored  water  forming  a 
striking  contrast  where  it  mingles  with  the  pure  blue  water  of 
the  St.  Lawrence.  The  scenery  along  the  entire  length,  owing 
to  the  numerous  falls  and  cascades,  is  extremely  romantic.  A 
few  miles  above  this  embouchure  of  the  Ottawa ,  is  situated  the 
village  of  St.  Anne.  It  owes  its  existence  and  support  to  the 
contributions  of  the  Canadian  voyageurs,  who  never  omit  to 


24 


pay  their  offerings  at  the  shrine  of  St.  Anne ,  their  tutelar  saint, 
before  engaging  in  any  enterprise.  This  gave  rise  to  the  Cana¬ 
dian  Boat  Song  of  Moore : — 

“  Faintly  as  tolls  the  evening  chime, 

Oar  voices  keep  tune,  and  our  oars  keep  time ; 

Soon  as  the  woods  on  shore  look  dim, 

We’ll  sing  at  St.  Ann’s  our  parting  hymn. 

Row,  brothers,  row,  the  stream  runs  fast, 

The  rapids  are  near  and  the  daylight’s  past.”  &c.,  &c. 

Many  who  never  have  seen  and  never  will  see  the  “  Uttawas’ 
tide  ”  have  sung  in  cadence  to  its  murmuring,  till  it  has  become 
almost  a  household  word.  Neither  the  Hudson,  Mississippi,  nor 
Ohio,  can  boast  of  such  charming  scenery  as  is  seen  on  the  Otta¬ 
wa.  Continuing  down  the  Lake,  we  arrive  at  the  Iroquois  settle¬ 
ment  of  Caughnawaga ,  or  the  “  Village  of  the  Hapids”  situated 
on  the  southern  shore,  ten  miles  from  Montreal.  Their  number 
is  about  1,200;  they  have  a  very  respectable  church  and  com¬ 
fortable  houses ;  they  subsist  principally,  in  the  summer,  by  na¬ 
vigating  boats  and  rafts  down  the  Lachine  Rapids ;  and  in  the 
winter,  by  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  snow-shoes,  moccasins, 
&c.  During  the  troubles  of  1838,  these  Indians  rendered  an  es¬ 
sential  service  to  the  government.  On  Sunday,  4th  day  of  No¬ 
vember,  a  body  of  armed  insurgents  had  concealed  themselves 
in  the  woods  near  the  village,  with  the  probable  intention  of  com¬ 
mitting  some  depredation  during  the  night.  These  were  discov¬ 
ered  by  some  Indian  children  who  vrere  searching  for  berries, 
and  who  carried  the  news  to  the  church,  where  the  warriors  were 
attending  divine  service.  The  congregation  turned  out  en  masse , 
and,  raising  the  war-whoop,  rushed  upon  the  insurgents,  took 
them  prisoners,  and  disarmed  them.  They  then  carried  them 
down  to  Montreal,  and  delivered  them  up  to  the  authorities. 
Their  loyal  conduct  has  been  rewarded  by  special  marks  of  favor 
from  Her  Majesty’s  government.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  is  the  little  village  of  lachine ,  connected  with  Montreal 
by  railroad  and  canal :  how  it  came  to  be  thus  named  is  worth 
relating.  At  the  time  Canada  was  discovered,  the  great  object 
of  adventure  was  to  find  a  northwest  passage  to  India  and 
China.  Champlain,  who,  in  his  second  voyage  to  this  country, 
made  a  settlement  at  Montreal,  was  so  convinced  that  a  passage 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean  could  be  made  by  the  way  of  the  St. 
Lawrence  and  the  great  Lakes,  that  he  named  the  river  above 


25 


the  rapids,  La  Chine,  (China,)  meaning  that  it  was  the  road  to 
China ,  which  name  it  bears  to  this  day. 

After  leaving  Lachine ,  the  St.  Lawrence,  contracts,  boils  up, 
and  foams  in  a  most  terrific  manner  amongst  rocks  and  small 
islands,  for  nine  miles,  forming  the  Rapids  of  Lachine,  or  Sault 
St.  Louis.  The  current  is  forced  through  a  variety  of  narrow 
channels,  in  many  places  at  the  rate  of  thirty  miles  per  hour; 
and  the  roaring  of  the  maddened  waters  may  be  heard  for 
several  miles.  These  are  the  most  dangerous  rapids  along  the 
course  of  the  St.  Lawrence /  vessels  descend  them,  although 
they  often  suffer  for  their  temerity  ;  but  it  is  impracticable  to 
ascend,  except  by  passing  through  the  fine  ship  canal  which 
extends  from  Mont/real  to  the  village  of  Lachine.  The  noble 
river  now  assumes  its  usual,  dignified  appearance,  placidly  ex¬ 
panding  to  more  than  two  miles  in  width ;  and,  leaving  the 
delightful  village  of  Laprairie  on  the  right  hand,  (where  com¬ 
mences  the  St.  John  railroad,)  it  presents  us  with  a  most  im¬ 
posing  and  magnificent  view  of 

MONTREAL,  THE  CAPITAL  CITY  OF  UNITED  CANADA. 

In  mid-channel,  and  one  mile  from  the  city,  St.  Helen's 
Island ,  clothed  with  verdure  and  interspersed  with  fine  trees, 
amidst  which  field-works  and  fortifications  peep  out,  forms  the 
foreground.  Facing  us  to  the  westward,  we  behold  a  spectacle 
unequalled  in  North  America — a  City  of  Granite,  with  such 
an  appearance  of  solidity  that  it  would  seem  as  if  intended  to 
last  for  ages.  A  massive  stone  quay  extends  along  the  whole 
river  front,  forming  a  delightful  promenade  in  summer.  The 
margin  is  lined  with  noble  stone  warehouses,  resembling  a  row 
of  fortifications  ;  fronting  the  St.  Lawrence  is  the  Bonsecours 
Ma/rket ,  an  imposing  structure,  exceeding  many  royal  palaces  in 
architectural  embellishments.  The  French  Cathedral  of  Notre 
Dame  is  a  magnificent  pile  of  building — without  exception  the 
largest  religious  edifice  in  America.  The  length  from  east  to 
west  is  255  feet  1  inch — the  breadth,  134  feet,  and  the  two 
towers  on  the  principal  or  west  front  are  each  220  feet  high.  It 
possesses  the  largest  bell  in  the  western  hemisphere.  It  con¬ 
tains  1,244  pews,  and  in  this  immense  temple  10,000  people 
can  kneel  in  prayer.  Amongst  many  other  fine  churches  of 
which  this  city  can  boast,  St.  Patrick's  Catholic  Church  is 


26 


capable  of  holding  7,000  persons.  The  public  buildings  are 
numerous  and  imposing.  They  include  the  Parliament  Home, 
Government  House ,  The  Hotel  Dieu ,  two  large  nunneries,  the 
Seminary  of  St.  Suljpice ,  some  fine  banks,  an  elegant  and 
convenient  theatre,  and  barracks  for  2,000  men  ;  while  in  the 
rear  of  the  city,  Mont  Royal ,  studded  with  handsome  villas, 
looms  up  majestically  to  the  height  of  600  feet,  and  forms  the 
back-ground  of  the  picture.  During  the  Canadian  riots,  on  the 
night  of  the  25th  of  April,  1849,  the  House  of  Assembly,  with 
all  the  archives  and  records  of  the  colonies  for  upwards  of  a 
century,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  books  were  valued  at 
£100,000  ; — not  eighty  dollars’ worth  of  property  was  saved. 
The  loss  is  irreparable.  The  queen’s  picture,  which  was  saved 
from  the  burning  buildings,  was  destroyed  in  the  streets. 
Montreal  is  well  lighted  with  gas,  has  an  efficient  police,  and  is 
considered  the  cleanest  city  “in  her  Majesty’s  dominions,”  and 
is,  without  exception,  the  cleanest  city  in  America.  Here,  ladies 
are  as  often  seen  walking  in  the  middle  of  the  street  as  on  the 
side-walk,  and  that,  too,  without  soiling  a  kid  slipper.  Every¬ 
thing  about  the  city  speaks  of  its  French  origin  ;  and  so  tena¬ 
cious  have  been  the  French  of  their  nationality,  that  a  century 
of  English  rule  has  altered  but  slightly  their  habits  or  manners. 
All  the  public  documents  are  still  printed  in  French  as  well  as 
English.  The  new  streets  are  spacious,  containing  many  ele¬ 
gant  stores.  The  hotels  are  numerous ;  Donnegan’s,  a  splendid 
house,  equalling  in  size  the  Astor  House  of  Hew  York,  has 
lately  been  destroyed  by  fire  ;  it  was  unsurpassed  in  the  ele¬ 
gance  of  its  accommodations.  In  the  year  1809,  the  inhabitants 
erected  by  subscription  a  monument  to  Lord  Nelson,  the  hero 
of  Trafalgar.  It  consists  of  a  stone  column,  surmounted  by  a 
fine  statue  of  the  naval  hero ;  it  fronts  the  principal  street,  of 
which  it  is  an  ornament. 

On  the  second  visit  of  Jacques  Cartier  to  this  country,  during 
the  reign  of  Francis  1st,  of  France,  he  heard  that  there  was  a 
large  settlement  far  up  the  great  river,  called  Hochelaga,  and 
he  determined  to  sail  in  quest  of  it.  After  a  perilous  voyage  he 
discovered  a  fortified  town  belonging  to  the  Huron  tribe  among 
rich  corn  fields,  on  a  beautiful  island,  and  under  the  shade  of 
a  mountain  named  Mont  Royal,  which  time  has  changed  to 
Montreal.  Sixty-eight  years  afterwards,  the  Sieur  Deraonts, 


27 


speaking  of  Canada,  reported  that  the  “  village  of  Hochalaga 
was  now  no  more.” 

But  in  the  year  1640,  several  persons,  full  of  religious  zeal, 
formed  themselves  into  a  society  for  the  purpose  of  colonizing 
the  island  of  Mont  Royal.  The  king  of  France  ceded  to  this 
association  the  whole  island,  and  Monsieur  Maisonneuve  was 
appointed  governor,  17th  June,  1642.  The  spot  selected  for 
the  city  was  consecrated  by  the  superior  of  the  Jesuits;  the 
£<  Queen  of  Angels”  was  supplicated  to  take  it  under  her  pro¬ 
tection,  and  it  was  named  after  her,  “  La  Yille  Marie.”  In  1644, 
the  whole  of  this  beautiful  domain,  which,  on  account  of  its  fer¬ 
tility,  is  called  the  garden  of  Canada,  became  the  property  of 
the  St.  Sulpicians  of  Paris,  and  was  by  them  afterwards  con¬ 
veyed  to  the  Seminary  of  tbe  same  order  at  Montreal,  in  whose 
possession  it  now  remains.  At  the  conquest  of  Canada  by  Great 
Britain,  in  1760,  the  property  and  revenues  of  the  seignories, 
and  all  estates  belonging  to  existing  religious  institutions,  were 
guaranteed  to  the  possessors. 

The  terms  in  favor  of  the  French  residents  were  faithfully 
and  even  liberally  fulfilled  by  the  British  government.  Civil 
and  religious  liberty  was  granted  to  the  Canadians,  and  great 
forbearance  and  generosity  were  displayed  by  the  captors  to  the 
conquered.  The  Canadians  were  so  gratified  with  the  change 
which  they  experienced  in  coming  under  the  British  rule,  that 
when  George  II.  died,  in  1760,  all  the  French  in  Canada,  of 
any  distinction,  went  into  mourning.  Within  the  last  half-cen¬ 
tury  many  capitalists  from  England  and  Scotland  have  settled 
at  Montreal,  and  have  infused  a  vigor  and  energy  into  it  which 
is  perceptible  in  its  extended  commerce  and  in  the  improve¬ 
ments  which  are  daily  taking  place.  The  completion  of  the 
line  of  canals,  opening  to  Montreal  the  trade  of  the  western 
country,  has  also  added  to  its  wealth  and  importance. 

Leaving  Montreal  on  our  passage  to  Quebec ,  we  have  a  fine 
view,  on  the  right  hand,  of  St.  Helen's  Island  ;  its  pleasant  green 
slopes  and  shady  glens  affording  delightful  situations  for  pic¬ 
nic  parties,  of  which  the  citizens  of  Montreal  frequently  avail 
themselves  in  summer.  On  our  left,  we  are  passing  a  quarter 
of  the  city  called  the  Quebec  Suburbs.  It  contains  several 
buildings  of  note — the  Military  Hospital ,  the  New  Jail ,  and 
Molson's  Brewery ,  an  immense  range  of  stone  buildings,  almost 


28 


equal  in  extent  to  some  of  the  porter  breweries  of  London.  A 
little  below  this,  a  ferry  connects  with  the  village  of  Longueil, 
on  the  opposite  shore,  from  whence  there  is  a  fine  plank-road 
extending,  about  twenty-three  miles,  to  Chambly.  On  this  road, 
two  miles  from  the  village,  the  first  blood  was  shed  during 
the  rebellion  of  1837.  A  peace  officer  having  two  prisoners  in 
custody,  and  accompanied  by  a  party  of  the  Royal  Montreal 
Cavalry,  just  previously  organized,  were  returning  to  Montreal, 
when  they  were  intercepted  by  a  large  body  of  armed  peasant¬ 
ry,  who  fired  upon  them  from  a  large  barn  and  from  behind  the 
fences  which  bordered  the  road.  Several  of  the  cavalry  were 
wounded,  and  their  prisoners  rescued.  We  now  descend  the 
Bajoids  of  St.  Mary ,  and  on  the  north  shore  pass  in  succession 
the  villages  of  Longueil  Point  and  Point  aux  Trembles ,  and  on 
the  south  shore,  the  village  of  Boucherville.  Another  branch 
of  the  Ottawa  now  joins  the  St.  Lawrence ,  still  increasing  the 
already  enormous  volume  of  water.  Tillage  after  village  is  now 
passed,  each  with  its  picturesque  church;  indeed,  the  whole 
banks  of  the  river  hence  to  Quebec ,  and  200  miles  below  that 
city,  appear  to  be  one  continuous  village,  being  thickly  dotted 
with  the  white  cottages,  churches,  and  long  white  barns  of  the 
simple  habitans.  The  French  Canadian  remains  to  this  day,  in 
all  his  customs,  as  were  his  forefathers  a  century  back;  he 
makes  no  improvement  either  in  the  tilling  of  his  land  or  his 
household  habits.  On  his  saint’s  day,  or  the  Sabbath,  he 
repairs  to  his  village  church  clothed  in  the  same  style  as  his 
ancestors.  During  the  summer  he  cultivates  his  land  ;  and  when 
the  snows  of  winter  cover  the  earth,  he  harnesses  his  little 
ponies,  and  accompanied  by  his  happy  family,  visits  his  neigh¬ 
bors,  and,  seated  round  their  large  square  stoves,  made  in  the 
style  of  a  past  century,  passes  his  long  winter  evenings  in  hap¬ 
piness,  amusing  himself  with  tales  of  “  La  Belle  France .”  Kind, 
hospitable,  contented,  he  asks  for  no  change  of  his  condition, 
but  only  desires  to  be  allowed  to  do  as  his  fathers  did  before  him. 
He  dies — and  his  children  divide  his  land,  each  taking  a 
“  nidletf  and  live  over  the  same  old  scenes  again.  There  dwells 
not  on  the  face  of  the  earth  a  more  happy,  contented,  and 
honest  people.  Varrennes,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  St.  Law¬ 
rence,  is  a  delightful  place,  famous  for  the  mineral  springs  in  its 
vicinity.  In  the  distance,  the  Holy  Mountain,  its  summit  crown- 


29 


ed  with  the  pilgrim’s  cross,  which  may  be  seen  for  many  miles, 
imparts  a  grandeur  to  the  scene.  This  cross  was  erected  by  the 
Bishop  of  Nancy  ;  it  is  made  of  timber,  100  feet  high,  and  cov¬ 
ered  with  tin,  which,  in  the  dry  atmosphere  of  this  country,  al¬ 
ways  retains  it  brightness  ;  and  many  a  pious  habitan  devoutly 
crosses  himself  when  he  beholds  this  emblem  of  his  faith  shining 
like  burnished  gold  in  the  rays  of  the  setting  sun.  Fifteen 
miles  further  on  the  same  side,  the  St.  Lawrence  receives  the 
Richelieu  River,  which  issues  from  Lake  Champlain ,  and  flows 
for  about  seventy  miles  through  a  fertile  country.  Flourishing 
settlements,  neftt  and  populous  villages,  and  handsome  churches 
adorn  its  banks  nearly  the  whole  length.  Near  its  junction  with 
the  St.  Lawrence  is  the  pretty  village  of  William  Henry ,  or  Sorel , 
so  called  on  account  of  its  being  built  on  the  site  of  old  Fort 
William  Henry.  This  is  a  military  station,  the  commander-in- 
chief  generally  residing  here.  It  is  rapidly  increasing  in  trade 
and  importance,  and  numbers  about  3,000  inhabitants,  princip¬ 
ally  British.  The  American' army  occupied  the  old  Fort,  in 
1786,  on  their  retreat  from  Quebec,  after  the  death  of  Mont¬ 
gomery.  Continuing  through  a  cluster  of  wooded  islands,  we 
enter  Lake  St.  Peter ,  which  is  merely  another  expansion  of  the 
mighty  river,  to  about  15  miles  in  width  and  25  in  length. 
The  water  is  shallow,  and  of  a  great  variety  of  tints.  It  is 
surrounded  by  a  fine  agricultural  country,  while  the  scenery 
along  the  banks  is  rather  flat  and  monotonous.  Two  substan¬ 
tial  light-ships  mark  the  ship  channel,  which  is  very  intricate. 
The  English  government  has  expended  nearly  a  million  of  dol¬ 
lars  for  deepening  and  improving  the  channel,  rendering  navi¬ 
gation  for  ships  of  a  large  class  safe  and  easy  to  Montreal,  a  dis¬ 
tance  of  530  miles  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  At  the  termina¬ 
tion  of  the  Lake,  the  river  again  rapidly  contracts  to  its  usual 
width,  resumes  its  dignified  deportment,  and  with  constantly  in¬ 
creasing  volume,  continues  on  its  pilgrimage  to  the  ocean.  Here, 
exactly  half  way  between  Montreal  and  Quebec,  we  approach 
the  old  town  of  the  Three  Rivers — old  for  the  western  world  ; 
for  it  was  settled  by  the  French  in  1618.  It  is  pleasantly  situ¬ 
ated  on  the  western  bank  of  the  river,  at  its  confluence  with  the 
River  St  Maurice,  which  enters  the  St  Lawrence  by  three  sep¬ 
arate  channels.  Two  islands,  connected  by  substantial  bridges, 


30 


at  the  embouchure  of  the  St.  Maurice,  give  it  the  appearance 
of  three  distinct  rivers,  and  to  this  the  town  owes  its  name.  It 
is  famous  for  its  iron  forges,  established  as  long  ago  as  1737. 
Many  wealthy  French  families  reside  here.  The  River  St. 
Maurice  is  nearly  150  miles  in  length,  and  contributes  a  sup¬ 
ply  of  water  to  the  St.  Lawrence  nearly  equal  in  volume  to  that 
of  the  Hudson.  Opposite  this,  enters  the  river  Becancour. 
After  passing  the  mouths  of  the  St.  Maurice ,  the  shores  gradu¬ 
ally  rise,  assuming  a  loftier  and  more  romantic  character. 
Churches — generally  with  two  spires — villages,  and  white  cot¬ 
tages,  are  profusely  scattered  along  the  shore.  The  population 
is  now  very  dense  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  We  now  see  in 
succession  the  Batiscan  and  St.  Anne's  rivers — the  former  a 
stream  of  magnitude  entering  by  two  channels.  Scenery  of  the 
most  picturesque  and  varied  description,  continually  greets  the 
eye — the  view  bounded  by  remote  and  lofty  mountains,  from 
amongst  which  the  rapid  river  Jacques  Cartier  rushes  im¬ 
petuously  into  the  St.  Lawrence.  The  Richelieu  Rapids  are 
next  passed — they  extend  some  ten  miles,  and  are  very 
shallow,  and  in  many  places  the  rocks  are  visible,  threatening 
shipwreck  to  the  unwary  mariner. 

The  government  has,  however,  erected  beacons  in  the  most 
dangerous  places.  On  the  north  shore  we  now  pass  Cape  Sante , 
and,  directly  opposite,  a  small  settlement  called  St.  Trois.  The 
banks  of  the  river  have  now  almost  a  perpendicular  elevation  of 
from  100  to  300  feet,  and  from  them  extends  back  a  beautiful, 
level  plain  covered  with  the  richest  verdure.  Cape  Rouge  ap¬ 
pears  on  the  left,  and  here  for  the  first  time  we  catch  a  view  of 
the  Citadel  of  Quebec ,  connected  with  so  much  historical  remi¬ 
niscence.  •  On  the  south  side,  the  Chaudiere  River  rushes  over 
a  beautiful  rapid,  four  miles  from  its  mouth,  dashing  and  foam¬ 
ing  amidst  the  wildest,  wood-crowned  cliff  and  charming, 
sequestered  valleys.  Two  miles  above  Quebec  we  reach  W olfe’s 
Cove,  the  spot  where,  after  so  many  risks  and  difficulties  he 
landed  his  gallant  army,  and  won  a  glorious  grave  in  the  arms 
of  victory.  The  track  is  discerned  by  which  he  ascended  the 
heights  to  the  Plains  of  Abraham  ;  and  not  far  from  the  mar- 
tello  tower  that  stands  before  us,  is  a  monument  erected  by  a 
grateful  nation  on  the  very  spot  where  the  lamented  hero  fell 
in  his  hour  of  triumph.  From  Quebec  to  the  opposite  shore 


31 


is  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  but  the  Basin  just  below  is 
five  times  as  wide,  and  large  and  deep  enough  to  float  the  navy 
of  England. 

We  now  glide  by  many  deep  coves  filled  with  timber,  des¬ 
tined  soon  to  be  conveyed  to  Europe  by  the  vessels  which  lie  at 
anchor  below.  At  the  foot  of  the  rock  is  the  suburb  of  St. 
Roch ,  the  commencement  of  the  lower  town.  It  is  built  on  land 
which  has  been  saved  from  the  water  by  the  erection  of  docks. 
A  little  further  down,  the  world-renowned  City  and  Fortress 
of  Quebec  stands  in  all  its  grandeur  before  you,  with  the  stan¬ 
dard  of  England  floating  from  its  citadel. 

Standing  on  the  heights  of  Cape  Diamond ,  and  looking  across 
the  deep  channel  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  which  is  now  about  1,400 
yards  wide,  (but  appears  to  be  not  half  that  distance  in  the  clear 
bright  atmosphere,)  a  grand  scene  lies  spread  before  us. 

We  cannot  resist  giving  the  following  lucid  description  of  the 

CITY  OF  QUEBEC, 

As  furnished  by  Mr.  Buckingham,  in  his  interesting  work  on 
Canada: — The  situation  of  Quebec  is  highly  advantageous  in  a 
commercial  as  well  as  a  military  point  of  view,  and  its  appear¬ 
ance  is  very  imposing  from  whatever  quarter  it  is  first  approach¬ 
ed;  though  at  a  distance  of  350  miles  up  from  the  sea,  the  mag¬ 
nificent  river  on  which  it  is  seated  is  three  miles  in  breadth  a 
little  below  the  town,  and  narrows  into  about  a  mile  in  breadth 
immediately  abreast  of  the  Citadel /  having  in  both  these  parts 
sufficient  depth  of  water  for  the  largest  ships  in  the  world — a 
rise  and  fall  of  twenty  feet  in  its  tides,  and  space  enough  in 
its  capacious  basin,  between  Cape  Diamond  on  one  hand.and  the 
Isis  of  Orleans  on  the  other,  to  afford  room  and  anchorage  for 
a  thousand  sail  of  vessels  at  a  time,  sheltered  from  all  winds 
and  perfectly  secure  !  The  River  St.  Charles  has  its  junction 
with  the  St.  Lawrence  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  promontory  of 
Cape  Diamond ,  and  affords  a  favorable  spot  for  ship-building 
and  repairs,  as  wTell  as  an  excellent  winter  harbor  for  ships  lying 
up  dismantled. 

Quebec  lies  at  the  junction  of  the  St.  Charles  with  the  St. 
Lawrence ,  the  ground  plan  of  it  being  almost  precisely  the 
same  as  that  of  New  YorJc^t  the  junction  of  the  East  and 
Hudson  Rivers. 


32 


THE  CITADEL  OF  QUEBEC 

Occupies  the  highest  point  of  Cape  Diamond ,  being  elevated 
350  feet  above  the  river,  and  presenting  almost  perpendicular 
cliffs  towards  the  water. 

The  city  is  built  from  the  water’s  edge  along  the  foot  of  these 
cliffs,  round  the  point  of  the  promonotry,  and  ascending  up¬ 
wards  from  thence  to  the  very  borders  of  the  citadel  itself.  It 
is  divided  into  the  Lower  and  Upper  town,  the  former  including 
all  that  is  below  the  ramparts,  or  fortified  lines,  the  latter  com¬ 
prehending  all  that  is  above  or  within  that  barrier. 

Besides  these,  there  is  a  large  suburb,  separated  from  Que¬ 
bec  proper,  cglled  the  Suburb  of  St.  JRoch,  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  river  St.  Charles,  the  only  portion  of  the  whole  that  is 
built  on  level  ground.  This  portion  of  Quebec  is  building  up 
rapidly,  and  presents  a  flourishing  appearance.  Several  of  the 
public  buildings  are  so  prominently  placed,  and  advantageous¬ 
ly  seen,  that  they  relieve  in  some  degree  the  general  monotony 
of  the  mass  of  ordinary  houses,  and  are  ornamental  to  the  town  ; 
while  the  spires  of  the  churches ,  the  dome  of  the  Parliament 
House ,  and  other  elevated  points  rising  from  the  general  sur¬ 
face,  with  their  tinned  roofs  glittering  in  the  sun,  give  a  live¬ 
liness  and  variety  to  the  picture  presented  by  the  city  from 
every  point  of  view,  which  no  other  place  in  America — and,  in¬ 
deed,  few  places  on  the  globe — presents. 

Quebec  possesses  one  of  the  most  beautiful  promenades 
imaginable ;  it  occupies  the  site  of  the  Castle  of  /St.  Louis ,  of 
which  Champlain  laid  the  foundation  on  6th  May,  1624. 
The  Trench  and  English  governors  resided  in  this  castle  till 
1834,  when,  on  the  23d  January,  it  was  entirely  destroyed  by  fire. 
It  has  never  been  rebuilt ;  but  Lord  Durham  had  the  site  clear¬ 
ed  of  the  ruins,  and  the  whole  area  floored  with  wood,  and  con¬ 
verted  into  a  beautiful  platform,  commanding  one  of  the  most 
magnificent  panoramic  views  that  can  be  imagined.  Mr.  Buck¬ 
ingham  remarks,  that  while  hewas  there,  there  were  not  less  than 
300  sail  of  merchant  ships  anchored  in  the  stream,  163  of  which 
arrived  in  two  successive  days,  and  at  least  100  more  lay  along 
the  side  of  the  wharfs  and  quays.  “  As  the  weather  was  beauti¬ 
fully  fine,  and  the  country  still  verdant  all  around,  the  sight  of 


O  O 
66 

so  many  ships,  seen  from  a  height  of  200  feet  above  the  river, 
with  the  fine  extent  of  country  opposite,  thickly  dotted  with  vil¬ 
lages  and  hamlets  of  the  purest  white,  and  the  grandeur  of  the 
mountains  in  the  distance  fading  away  into  a  fainter  and  fainter 
blue,  still  scarcely  distinguishable  from  the  azure  sky  of  the  far 
horizon,  was  beautiful  and  magnificent  beyond  expression.” 
The  line  of  fortifications  inclosing  the  upper  town  and  citadel 
is  about  three  miles  in  extent.  All  communication  with  the  up¬ 
per  town  is  through  massive  gates  protected  by  heavy  cannon. 
The  western  part  of  the  city  being  deficient  in  natural  strength, 
so  fully  developed  in  the  rest  of  the  line,  has  been  covered  by 
a  combination  of  regular  works,  consisting  of  ramparts,  bastion, 
ditch,  and  glacis.  In  order  to  strengthen  the  defences  of  the 
city  on  the  west,  four  martello  towers  were  erected  on  the 
Plains  of  Abraham.'  They  extend  from  the  St.  Lawrence  to 
the  Coteau  St.  Genevieve,  at  irregular  distances  from  eack 
other,  of  from  5  to  600  yards,  and  about  three  and  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  from  the  city. 

Their  construction  is  such  that  they  could  be  readily  demol¬ 
ished  by  the  guns  from  the  walls,  should  such  a  step  be  rendered 
necessary  by  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  an  enemy,  but  on 
the  opposite  side  their  construction  is  exceedingly  solid,  and 
the  platform  on  the  top  is  furnished  with  guns  of  heavy  calibre. 
The  walk  round  the  ramparts  is  the  most  delightful  that  can  be 
imagined  ;  look  out  in  what  direction  you  please,  the  eye  com¬ 
mands  a  prospect  of  fifty  miles  in  extent,  replete  with  all  the 
elements  which  enter  into  the  formation  of  a  perfect  landscape. 
The  author  of  “  Hochelaga”  thus  glowingly  describes  the  panora¬ 
mic  view  from  the  citadel : — “Take  mountain  and  plain,  sinuous 
river  and  broad  tranquil  waters,  stately  ship  and  tiny  boat,  gen¬ 
tle  hill  and  shady  valley,  bold  headland  and  rich  fruitful  fields, 
frowning  battlements  and  cheerful  villa,  glittering  dome  and 
rural  spire,  flowery  garden  and  sombre  forest — group  them  all 
into  the  choicest  picture  of  ideal  beauty  your  fancy  can  create, 
— arch  it  over  with  a  cloudless  sky,  light  it  up  with  a  radiant 
sun,  and,  lest  the  scene  should  be  too  dazzling,  hang  a  veil  of 
light  haze  over  all,  to  soften  the  light  and  perfect  the  repose — 
you  will  then  have  seen  Quebec  on  this  September  morning.” 

How  changed  the  scene!  Winter  has  cast  its  frigid  mantle 
over  the  gay  landscape.  The  St.  Lawrence  is  now  burdened 


34 


with  immense  masses  of  floating  ice,  exhibiting  the  most  varied 
and  fantastic  appearance,  through  which  the  dark  leaden-colored 
waters  are  occasionally  seen.  The  hardy  habitans  keep  up  a 
communication  with  the  opposite  shore,  and  carry  passengers 
and  light  goods  in  their  canoes  ;  landing  on  the  intervening 
islands  of  ice,  dragging  their  canoes  across  and  launching  them 
on  the  other  side.  Owing  to  the  immense  volume  of  water  and 
the  strength  of  the  current,  the  St.  Lawrence  is  seldom  hound  in 
icy  fetters.  However,  it  so  happens  that  about  every  five  years 
on  an  average  the  ice-islands  get  jammed  up  together,  some¬ 
times  thrown  up  into  heaps  or  mounds  of  great  height,  opposite 
the  city,  and  the  frost  binding  them  forms  a pont  os  bridge,  on 
some  very  severe  night,  just  at  the  turn  of  the  tide.  Winter  sud¬ 
denly  casts  its  manacles  over  the  mighty  stream,  and  an  immense 
sheet  of  glare  ice,  extending  for  many  miles,  connects  Quebec 
with  the  opposite  shore.  When  this  takes  place  it  is  hailed  with 
almost  frantic  delight  by  the  whole  population.  The  glassy  sur¬ 
face  of  the  river  is  soon  covered  with  gay  parties  in  sledges  and 
carioles,  whisked  along  at  fearful  speed  by  the  mettlesome  little 
horses.  People  clad  in  fur  or  blanket  coats  are  seen"  in  all  direc¬ 
tions,  sleighing,  skating,  and  running.  But  the  feature  in  the 
picture  most  novel  and  interesting  to  the  stranger  is  the  ice-boats. 
A  boat  is  fixed  upon  a  triangular  frame,  with  runners  like  those 
of  skates  at  each  corner;  it  is  propelled  by  sails, sometimes  at  the 
rate  of  twenty  knots  an  hour,  a  pole  with  a  spike  at  the  end  acting 
as  a  rudder.  Many  of  these  crafts,  filled  with  a  jovial  crew  of 
both  sexes,  are  sailing  on  the  wind.,  or  tacking  with  the  greatest 
facility,  and  when  viewed  from  the  high  banks,  impart  an  addi¬ 
tional  vivacity  to  the  scene.  The  costume  of  the  peasantry  of 
Lower  Canada  is  singular  and  picturesque;  it  consists  generally 
of  a  gray  capote,  or  long  coat  with  a  hood,  a  variegated  sash 
around  the  waist,  a  red  woolen  cap  on  the  head,  and  long  boots 
reaching  to  the  thighs,  or  moccasins.  This,  with  very  trifling 
variation,  is  worn  throughout  the  year.  It  has  been  remarked 
that  Quebec  has  an  Italian  summer  and  a  Bussian  winter.  From 
its  position  it  is  peculiarly  liable  to  extremes  of  cold  and  heat 
In  summer-time  the  thermometer  often  indicates  100  degrees  in 
the  shade,  while  in  the  winter  the  mercury  has  been  known  to 
descend  to  40  degrees  below  zero.  Yet  the  air  is  pure,  dry,  and 


I 


35 

A 

exhilarating,  and  the  climate  exceedingly  healthy,  and  only  to 
be  dreaded  by  consumptives. 

Adieu  to  Quebec!  the  citadel  of  JSTorth  America  and  the 
Gibraltar  of  the  Western  Continent — the  battle-ground  of  Wolfe, 
rich  in  undying  memories!  We  are  once  more  borne  along  on 
the  deep  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence ,  and  sigh  as  the  fairy-like 
scene  fades  on  onr  view.  We  are  passing  through  fleets  of  ves¬ 
sels  which  have  come  laden  with  the  fabrics  of  Europe  to  take 
back  the  growth  of  the  primeval  forests.  The  craft  now  met 
with  are  principally  square-rigged  vessels  of  the  largest  size, 
employed  in  the  timber  trade.  From  1,200  to  1,500  arrive 
annually  at  the  port  of  Quebec.  After  passing  the  mouth  of 
the  St.  Charles  River ,  a  road  may  be  traced  leading 'through 
the  pretty  village  of  Beauport ,  and  amidst  farms  and  beautiful 
orchards  to  the  celebrated  Falls  of  Montmokenci.  At  a  dis¬ 
tance,  this  magnificent  cataract  appears  like  a  motionless  streak 
of  snowilpon  the  precipitous  bank  of  the  river;  but,  now  we  are 
abreast  of  it,  we  see  a  mighty  torrent  projected  with  incredible 
velocity  over  the  perpendicular  rock,  250  feet,  into  the  St.  Law¬ 
rence,  acquiring  a  fleecy  whiteness  as  it  falls,  while  the  sun 
produces  a  rainbow  at  its  base  in  fine  contrast  with  the  snowy 
effulgence  of  the  falling  wrater.  This  cataract  is  the  greatest 
natural  curiosity  in  the  vicinity  of  Quebec.  It  is  about  100  feet 
higher  than  the  Niagara  Falls ,  and  has  been  pronounced  by 
many  to  be  more  picturesque  and  beautiful.  On  a  hill  close  to 
the  Falls  is  a  house  which  was  formerly  the  residence  of  the  late 
Duke  of  Kent — it  is  now  the  residence  of  Peter  Patterson,  Esq., 
proprietor  of  extensive  saw  mills  in  the  vicinity.  The  lovely 
Island  of  Orleans ,  nineteen  miles  in  length  and  about  five  in 
breadth,  here  divides  the  river  into  the  north  and  south  chan¬ 
nels.  The  upper  part  of  it  is  covered  with  noble  forest  trees, 
while  cultivated  fields  and  beautiful  gardens  slope  down  to  the 
water’s  edge  at  some  points,  and  bold,  perpendicular  banks  are 
presented  at  others.  At  Ause  and  Maraud  an  enormous  vessel, 
called  the  Columbus,  was  launched  in  1824 — it  was  3,700  tons 
register,  and  carried  four  masts.  The  next  year,  another  enor¬ 
mous  ship,  the  Baron  Renfrew,  was  launched  here.  Both  were 
built  of  this  extraordinary  size  with  the  view  of  taking  them  to 
En «•! and,  and  saving  the  duty  on  the  lumber,  of  which  they  were 
composed.  This  object  was,  however,  defeated,  as  it  was  decided 


36 


that  a  voyage  was  first  to  be  made  out  of  England.  The 
Columbus  returned  to  this  country,  and  was  wrecked  on  her 
second  voyage,  while  the  other  wTas  lost  on  the  coast  of  France, 
on  her  voyage  home. 

The  St.  Lawrence  here  rolls  through  a  channel  of  full  twenty 
miles  in  width,  and  the  northern  shore  increasing  in  elevation, 
and  covered  with  the  forest,  presents  a  wild  and  rugged  appear¬ 
ance.  We  are  now  in  sight  of  Mount  Ton  and  Cape  Tourment , 
bold  promontories  rising  to  the  height  of  200  feet.  Crosse 
Island ,  thirty  miles  below  Quebec,  is  a  quarantine  station.  All 
vessels  from  sea  stop  here  as  they  pass  up.  It  is  provided  with 
a  hospital  and  Catholic  Church.  Crane  Isle ,  a  fertile  spot,  is 
passed,  and  Goose  Island,  owned  by  the  nuns,  and  cultivated  as 
a  farm  by  tenants.  And  now  we  see  the  Pillars ,  a  group  of 
rocky  isles,  on  one  of  which  a  lighthouse  is  erected ;  a  floating 
light  marks  the  intricate  and  dangerous  channel  of  the  Traverse. 
The  scenery  increases  in  interest,  the  vast  river  looking  like  the 
opening  to  the  ocean ;  the  lofty  shores  studded  with  cheerful 
residences,  while  hill  above  hill,  and  mountain  above  mountain 
rise  up  in  the  distance.  Near  St.  Paul’s  Bay ,  sixty-five  miles 
from  Quebec,  is  the  Isle  aux  Coudres  {Isle  of  Filberts ),  which 
received  its  name  from  Jaques  Cartier ,  on  account  of  the  pro¬ 
fusion  of  these  delicious  nuts  which  he  observed  on  landing.  The 
bold, round  peak  we  see  is' called  Goose  Cape ,  and  now  we  come 
to  the  well  cultivated  settlement  of  Mai  Bay,  or  Murray  Bay , 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Mai  Bay  River.  It  is  inhabited  chiefly  by 
the  descendants  of  the  Highlanders,  engaged  in  Wolfe’s  cam¬ 
paign,  who  settled  here  and  intermarried  with  the  Canadians. 
The  water  here  being  perfectly  salt,  many  families  from  Quebec 
visit  Mai  Bay  for  the  purpose  of  sea  bathing. 

Continuous  ranges  of  hills  can  now  be  seen  in  every  direc¬ 
tion.  The  grand  and  lofty  mountain  peaks  of  Cape  Eagle  and 
Cape  Salmon  here  come  into  view, — the  noble  river  is  whitened 
with  hundreds  of  ships,  and  variegated  with  islands;  numerous 
shoals  of  white  porpoises  which  frequent  these  waters,  together 
with  scores  of  seals,  show  their  heads  above  the  water  in  all  di_ 
rections,  and  now  and  then  a  whale  scatters  the  smaller  fry  as  he 
approaches  :  altogether,  it  is  such  a  scene  as  cannot  be  met  with 
in  any  other  part  of  America,  and  probably  not  on  the  globe. 

The  Mississippi  is  but  a  low,  sluggish  creek,  compared  to  the 


/ 


37 

majestic  St.  Lawrence.  The  Missouri  and  Ohio  are  but  tiny 
streams  compared  \vith  some  of  the  tributaries  of  the  St.  Law¬ 
rence.  The  Hudson  is  but  a  drop  in  the  bucket,  a  rill,  winding 
its  way  through  a  small  farm  or  meadow,  compared  with  that 
immense  flood  of  fresh  water  poured  into  the  Atlantic  through 
the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  , 

¥e  are  now  140  miles  below  Quebec,  and  steering  for  the 
gap  in  the  stupendous  cliffs  on  the  north  shore.  This  is  the 
mouth  of  the 


SAGUENAY, 

And,  although  a  mile  wide,  it  appears  narrow  when  compared 
with  the  St.  Lawrence,  which  at  this  point  is  considerably  more 
than  25  miles  in  width.  Yet  the  Saguenay  is  one  of  the  most 
important  tributaries  of  the  great  river  ;  its  volume  of  water  is 
immense,  and  the  depth  and  force  of  its  current  is  so  sensibly 
felt  at  its  confluence  with  the  St.  Lawrence,  that  for  a  distance 
of  several  miles  vessels  are  obliged  to  yield  to  its  influence.  It 
is  decidedly  the  largest  river  east  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains, 
the  St.  Lawrence  excepted.  From  the  inky  blackness  of  its 
waters,  and  the  strange,  wild,  and  romantic  character  of  the 
scenery  along  its  banks,  it  may  be  considered  unquestionably 
the  most  remarkable  river  on  this  continent.  Whilst  we  are 
approaching  the  lofty  portals  of  this  mysterious  stream,  a  brief 
description  of  the  region  whence  it  comes  will  better  enable  the 
reader  to  form  a  proper  estimate  of  it«as  a  wonder  of  nature. 

In  an  immense  valley,  forming  part  of  the  territory  belong¬ 
ing  to  the  Hudson'’ s  Bay  Company ,  and  about  42  leagues  north 
from  the  St.  Lawrence,  is  the  beautiful  Lake  of  St.  John.  Its 
form  is  nearly  circular,  its  diameter  about  30  miles,  and  it  serves 
as  a  great  natural  reservoir,  into  which  twelve  rivers  and  many 
smaller  streams  discharge  their  waters.  The  Saguenay  is  the 
only  outlet  by  which  this  vast  collection  of  water  finds  its  way 
to  the  St.  Lawrence.  Its  scenery  is  of  the  wildest  and  most 
startling  description  through  its  wdiole  length,  which  is  about 
130  miles  from  I^ake  St.  John  to  Tadousac  Bay.  The  first  half 
of  its  course  lies  through  a  wilderness  of  hills  covered  with  the 
pine,  the  fir,  and  the  spruce,  and  numerous  and  formidable 
rapids  render  the  navigation  hazardous  except  to  experienced 
•canoe-men.  But  below  Chicoutimi ,  which  is  68  miles  from 


38 


its  mouth,  it  is  navigable  for  the  largest  vessels.  From  Ha  / 
Ha  !  Bay ,  downwards,  the  passage  of  its,  waters  is  through 
solid  mountains  of  sienitic  granite,  which  seem  to  have  been 
split  asunder  by  the  upheavings  of  an  earthquake,  thus  forming 
an  immense  canal  with  banks  of  perpendicular  rocks  towering  up 
to  1,500  or  2,000  feet  above  the  water,  which  is  about  150  fathoms 
deep  nearly  the  whole  distance.  Its  depth  at  different  points 
has  never  been  ascertained ;  it  has  been  plumbed  with  a  line  of 
330  fathoms,  or  1,980  feet,  and  that,  too,  immediately  at  the 
base  of  the  cliff,  and  no  bottom  could  be  found.  The  power  of 
language  is  inadequate  to  describe  this  great  specimen  of  na¬ 
ture’s  handiwork,  nor  is  it  possible  to  convey  to  the  reader  any 
conception  of  it  by  comparison  with  any  other  river  scenery, 
for  nothing  like  it  can  be  found  in  North  America. 

“  I  can’t  describe  it  though  so  much  it  strike, 

Nor  liken  it — I  never  saw  the  like.” 

Mr.  Charles  Lanman,  a  talented  writer  and  artist,  who 
lately  a  made  a  tour  through  Lower  Canada,  thus  speaks  of  the 
Saguenay  : — u  Imagine  for  a  moment  an  extensive  country  of 
rocky  and  thinly  clad  mountains,  suddenly  separated  by  some 
convulsion  of  nature  so  as  to  form  an  almost  bottomless  chasm, 
varying  from  one  to  two  miles  in  width  ;  and  then  imagine  this 
chasm  suddenly  half  filled  with  water,  and  that  the  moss  of 
centuries  has  softened  the  rugged  walls  on  either  side,  and  you 
will  have  a  pretty  accurate  idea  of  the  Saguenay.”  .  .  .  u  And, 
generally  speaking,  these  towering  bulwarks  are  not  content  to 
loom  perpendicularly  into  the  air,  but  they  must  needs  bend 
over,  as  if  to  look  at  their  own  savage  features  reflected  in  the 
deep.  Ay,  and  that  word  deep  but  tells  the  simple  truth,  for  the 
flood  that  rolls  beneath  is  black  and  cold  as  the  bottomless  pit. 
Awful  beyond  expression,  I  can  assure  you,  is  the  sensation 
which  one  experiences  in  sailing  along  the  Saguenay,  to  raise  his 
eye  heavenward,  and  behold,  hanging  directly  over  his  head  a 
mass  of  granite  apparently  ready  to  totter  and  fall,  and  weigh¬ 
ing  perhaps  a  million  of  tons.  Terrible  and  sublime,  beyond 
the  imagery  of  the  most  daring  poet,  are  these  cliffs ;  and 
while  they  proclaim  the  omnipotent  power  of  Cod,  they  at  the 
same  time  whisper  into  the  ear  of  man  that  he  is  but  as  the  moth 
which  flutters  in  the  noontide  air.  And  yet  is  it  not  enough  to 


39 


fill  the  heart  of  man  with  holy  pride  and  unbounded  love,  to 
remember  that  the  soul  within  him  shall  have  but  commenced 
its  existence  when  all  the  mountains  in  the  world  shall  have 
been  consumed  as  a  scroll  ?5’ 

The  tourist,  while  ascending  the  Saguenay,  and  passing  along 
the  base  of  these  mountain  cliffs,  whose  rugged  summits  seem  to 
penetrate  the  blue  expanse  above,  is  oppressed  by  a  sense  of 
loneliness  and  desolation.  When  he  raises  his  eyes  to  the  vast 
height  of  the  broken  and  misshapen  masses  which  overhang  and 
threaten  momentarily  to  overwhelm  him,  the  story  of  the  Titans 
seems  to  be  realized,  and  it  appears  to  him  as  if  they  had  suc¬ 
ceeded,  in  this  wild  and  primeval  portion  of  the  globe,  in  heaping 
Ossa  upon  Pelion,  and  Olympus  upon  Ossa.  Even  wThen  the 
bright  sun  lights  up  each  rocky  pinnacle  or  fir-crowned  height, 
and  tips  with  brilliancy  the  snowy  foam-caps  of  the  waves,  the 
gigantic  and  everlasting  hills  produce  a  sensation  of  awe, — 
imagine,  then,  what  must  be  the  feelings  of  the  solitary  voyageur 
in  his  bark  canoe,  when  overtaken  by  the  storm  as  he  floats  on 
the  bosom  of  this  wild  river,  shut  in  on  both  sides  by  precipitous 
walls  of  granite,  cutting  off  all  hope  of  escape.  A  sweeping 
wind  rushes  suddenly  through  the  chasm,  accompanied  by  heavy 
pattering  rain  ;  darkness  closing  in  above  like  a  pall,  turns  the 
already  leaden-colored  wraters  to  the  hue  of  ink.  Heavens ! 
what  a  flash  darts  out  from  the  palpable  darkness,  revealing  the 
ghastly  and  spectral  forms  of  the  rugged  cliffs!  and  now  the 
thunder  peals  forth  wdth  such  a  deafening  crash  that  loose 
boulders  and  masses  of  rock  come  leaping  and  plunging  into  the 
startled  wave.  Every  rock,  and  cavern,  and  distant  mountain 
takes  up  and  repeats  the  wild  echoes. 

But  see  !  the  clouds  are  breaking  up, — the  storm  is  abating, 
the  roar  of  the  thunder  is  more  subdued,  and  is  dying  away  in 
the  distant  ranges  of  mountains', — the  seals  disport  themselves 
in  the  sparkling  waves, — the  white  porpoises  in  shoals  are  throw¬ 
ing  up  the  glittering  spray  in  their  uncouth  gambols, — the  sun 
once  more  tints  the  landscape  with  burnished  gold, — the  air, 
purified  by  the  electric  current,  is  fresh  and  elastic,  and  nature, 
re-assured,  seems  more  beautiful  and  joyous  than  ever. 

We  hope  the  kind  reader  will  excuse  us  for  leaving  him  so 
long  at  the  mouth  of  the  Saguenay ,  whilst  wre  have  been  humbly 
endeavoring  to  describe  the  general  features  of  this  singular 


40 


river,  under1  the  different  aspects  of  sunshine  and  gloom.  We 
will  now  resume  our  office  of  pilot  and  cicerone ,  and  point  out 
the  various  objects  of  note  as  we  ascend  the  river  to  Chicoutimi. 
To  the  left  is  Tadousac  Bay ,  which  is  one  of  the  king’s  posts 
or  stations  for  trading  with  the  Indians.  It  comprises  several 
stores,  &c.,  a  chapel  and  one  dwelling-house.  These  objects, 
situated  on  a  terrace  about  50  feet  above  the  water,  including  a 
flag-staff  and  some  cannon,  and  the  mountains  rising  up  abruptly 
in  the  rear,  form  a  very  pleasing  object  in  the  picture.  Here 
are  extensive  salmon  fisheries.  Looking  ahead,  we  have  a  mag¬ 
nificent  view  of  the  river  in  perspective,  in  which  a  round  moun 
tain  peak,  called  Tete  de  Route,  is  a  prominent  feature.  The 
river  now  inclines  to  the  north,  for  a  few  miles,  but  soon  turns 
again  to  the  west,  being  in  many  places  three  miles  in  width, 
and  its  depth  profound  until  we  arrive  at  the  bar,  60  miles 
from  its  mouth.  Nature,  in  her  wildest  freaks,  has  evidently 
been  fashioning  the  mountain  and  rocks  into  the  most  whim¬ 
sical  and  fantastical  shapes,  a'nd  objects  of  the  most  startling 
description  now  follow  each  other  in  rapid  succession.  The 
two  Profiles  are  strong  outlines  on  the  rocks,  several  hundred 
feet  above  the  water,  and  strongly  resemble  the  human  face. 
The  St.  Louis  Islands ,  a  rocky  group,  and  the  mouth  of  the  Mar¬ 
guerite  River ,  are  passed.  And  soon  we  come  in  sight  of  two 
tremendous  masses  of  rock,  called  Eternity  Point  and  Cape 
Trinity,  rising  from  the  water’s  edge  to  the  height  of  nearly 
2,000  feet,  and  so  abruptly  that  ships  of  the  largest  tonnage 
may  sail  close  enough  to  their  base  for  the  hand  to  touch  them. 
When  the  traveler  raises  his  eyes  to  their  vast  height,  and  then 
think  of  the  deep  abyss  of  waters  rolling  beneath  him,  he  is 
overcome  with  awe,  and  shrinks  as  he  becomes  convinced  of  his 
own  nothingness.  Trinity  Cay)e  has  three  peaks  on  its  summit 
resembling  human  heads.  The  other  huge  pile  of  everlasting 
granite  is  well  designated  by  the  name  of  Eternity  Point. 
Sheltered  between  these  beetling  and  overhanging  cliffs  is  a 
delightful  recess  in  the  shore,  called  Trinity  Cove, — its  retired 
and  lonely  beauty  presents  a  striking  contrast  with  the  towering 
grandeur  of  the  rest  of  the  scene.  Further  still  we  come  to 
Statue  Point.  Here,  a  rock,  bearing  a  striking  similarity  to 
the  human  figure,  formerly  stood  in  a  niche  far  above  the  water, 
The  figure  has,  however,  toppled  from  its  base,  and  is  hid  in  the 
bosom  of  the  deep.  A  little  beyond  this,  Tableau  Rock  shoots 


up  perpendicularly  from  the  water’s  edge  to  the  height  of 
several  hundred  feet.  We  are  now  passing  into  Grand  Bay,  or 
Ha-ha-Bay ,  as  it  is  known  by  the  liabitans.  Itis  supposed  that 
it  gained  the  latter  appellation  from  the  first  voyagers,  who,  on 
suddenly  beholding  what  they  conceived  to  be  a  new  channel  for 
the  river,  exclaimed  “Ha!  ha!”  It  forms  an  excellent  harbor, 
in  wdiich  the  largest  ships  of  war  might  ride  with  safety,  and  is 
destined  no  doubt  to  be  the  principal  seat  of  trade  in  this  north¬ 
ern  district.  The  Chicoutimi  channel,  a  continuation  of  the 
Saguenay,  here  enters  Grand  Bay  nearly  at  right  angles  on  the 
eastern  side,  pent  in  by  two  lowering  cliffs.  Here,  the  moun¬ 
tains  have  have  been  burned  over  by  the  pioneers  who  have  at¬ 
tempted  a  settlement  in  this  forbidding  locality.  Chicoutimi  is 
a  king’s  post  and  trading  factory.  It  is  situated  at  the  junction 
of  the  Chicoutimi  River  with  the  Saguenay,  and  consists  of 
several  large  buildings  used  as  stores  ;  one  of  Mr.  Price’s  largest 
saw-mills  is  at  this  place.  A  venerable  church,  which  was  built 
by  the  Jesuit  Labrosse,  in  1727,  stands  in  the  centre  of  a  grassy 
lawn,  surrounded  by  shrubbery.  The  old  bell,  still  remaining 
in  the  tower  of  this  church,  is  covered  with  characters  or  hiero¬ 
glyphics  which  the  most  learned  visiters  have  been  unable  to 
interpret.  Missionaries  come  every  year,  in  the  months  of  June 
and  July,  to  minister  to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  isolated  in¬ 
habitants,  and,  by  their  endeavors,  the  Indians  in  the  settlement 
have,  in  a  great  measure,  abandoned  the  use  of  “Fire  water,” 
and  become  orderly  and  decent  compared  with  the  other  scat¬ 
tered  remnants  of  their  race.  But  they  are  all  a  degraded  and 
a  down-trodden  people — their  bold  spirit  of  independence  has 
been  crushed  by  the  white  man,  and  the  lines  of  Dryden  can  no 
longer  apply  to  them — 

- “  As  free  as  nature  first  made  man, 

When  wild  in  woods  the  noble  savage  ran.” 

Beyond  this  point  civilization  ends,  and  the  savage  wilder¬ 
ness  stretches  out  to  Hudson’s  Bay,  bearing  no  signs  or  traces  of 
life  save  the  trail  of  the  Indian  hunter. 

Into  this  wild  region,  where  constant  impediments  to  our 
progress  present  themselves,  and  grievous  privations  have  to  be 
endured,  we  will  not  invite  the  reader.  The  curtain  therefore 
falls.  Our  romantic  trip  is  ended. 


TESTIMONIALS. 


Irving  House ,  New  York,  Nov.  1st,  1849. 

Proprietor  of  the  Mirror, — 

Dear  Sir, — I  have  witnessed  your  Moving  Mirror  of  the  Lake,sthe  Niagara, 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  Saguenay,  now  on  exhibition  at  the  Minerva 
Rooms,  with  the  greatest  pleasure.  For  fifteen  years  I  have  navigated  these 
lakes  and  rivers,  and  am  perfectly  familiar  with  all  the  objects, — the  Rapids, 
Islands,  and  Cities, — represented  on  your  painting.  I  award  to  your  beautiful 
picture  the  palm  of  excellence,  as  a  perfectly  truthful  and  correct  delineation 
of  these  sources  of  navigation.  Yours  truly, 

THOS.  MAXWELL, 

Former  Commander  of  the  Royal  Mail  Steamer  Gildersleve,  since  of  the 
Steamer  Canada. 


New  York,  Nov.  1th,  1849. 

Having  been  laboring  as  a  Missionary  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  for 
three  years  past  among  the  Thousand  Islands  of  the  River  St.  Lawrence,  and 
being  familarly  acquainted  with  the  scenery  on  that  grand  and  majestic  stream, 
it  is  with  pleasure  I  certify  to  the  accuracy  of  your  Mirror,  now  exhibiting  at 
406  Broadway,  New  York  City.  The  representation  of  Brockville  by  moon¬ 
light  is  surpassingly  beautiful,  while  the  rapids,  fishing  vessels,  rafts,  with  some 
of  the  inhabited  islands  and  a  floating  population  in  their  unique  costume,  is 
true  and  exceedingly  picturesque.  REV.  JEROME  A.  DAVENPORT. 

New  York,  Nov.  19 (h,  1849. 

Proprietor  of  the  Mirror,— 

Dear  Sir, — Having  visited  your  “Mirror  of  the  Lakes,”  I  with  pleasure 
testify  to  its  accuracy.  I  have  resided  in  the  Saguenay  country  many  years, 
(being  in  the  fur-trading  business  previous  to  its  occupancy  by  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company,)  and  next  to  beholding  its  sublime  scenery,  is  a  visit  to  the 
transfer  on  your  canvas.  I  am  also  acquainted  with  the  St.  Lawrence,  and 
in  fact  all  the  objects  which  illustrate  and  enliven  your  “Mirror;”  and  the 
superb  scenery — unparalleled  in  the  world — which  is  faithfully  delineated  by 
you,  should  cause  your  “  Mirror  of  the  Lakes”  to  be  visited  by  all.  As  far  as 
I  am  acquainted,  nothing  could  exceed  your  correct  description,  or  convey  a 
more  accurate  impression  of  this  vast  and  little  known  region. 

I  am,  sir,  your  ob’t  servant, 

Johnson  street,  Brooklyn.  MOULTON  BULLOCK. 

Proprietor  of  the  “  Seven  Mile  Panorama  of  the  Lakes,  the  Niagara,  the  St. 

Lawrence  and  Saguenay  Rivers:” 

Sir, — Last  evening  I  availed  myself  of  the  first  leisure  hour  I  have  had  for 
a  long  time  to  visit  Amory  Hall  and  view  your  Panorama  of  the  upper  Lakes 
and  the  romantic  St.  Lawrence.  The  former,  beautiful  with  a  most  charming 
scenery,  the  latter  flowing  betwween  lofty  hills  whose  heads  are  hid  in  the 
clouds  as  though  those  stern  sentinels  of  wood  and  w7ater  were  holding  con¬ 
verse  with  the  Great  Spirit. 

I  have  traveled  in  a  birchen  canoe  over  all  the  region  represented  on  your 
canvas,  know  almost  every  rock  and  tree,  and  I  am  much  pleased  in  being  able 
to  give  my  testimony  to  the  accuracy  of  your  delineations,  and  am  astonished 
to  see  how  Art  can  transfer  Nature. 


43 


The  islands,  banks,  battle-grounds  and  noted  places ;  the  grandeur  around 
Niagara;  the  mad  war  of  waters  in  the  whirlpool;  the  bold  granite  hills,  the 
towns  and  cities,  seen  on  your  picture,  give  me  so  much  pleasure  that  I  avail 
myself  of  the  first  opportunity  of  expressing  it,  and  of  recommending  the  exhi¬ 
bition  to  my  friends.  Should  they  see  it,  I  am  convinced  that  they  will  agree 
with  me  in  saying  that  the  production  is  one  of  great  merit,  and,  with  me,  wish 
you  that  success  which  talent  so  laudably  employed,  deserves. 

To  me  your  painting  is  one  of  deep  interest,  as  it  brings  to  my  mind  the 
scene  of  my  early  life;  and  Cobourg,  which  is  represented  in  the  picture,  pla¬ 
ces  me  within  fourteen  miles  of  the  residence  of  my  aged  father. 

Wishing  you  abundant  success,  I  remain  your  friend, 

KAH-GE-GA-GAH-BOWH. 

(G.  Copway,)  Ojibway  Nation. 

Adams  House,  Boston,  June  18,  1850. 

Proprietor  of  the  Mirror, — 

Dear  Sir, — I  thank  you  for  the  complimentary  invitation  to  the  exhibition 
of  your  splendid  painting.  It  afforded  great  gratification  to  myself  and  the 
members  of  my  family.  I  must  acknowledge  I  was  not  prepared  for  such  an 
entertainment.  Having  seen  the  representations  of  the  Mississippi,  the 
Thames,  the  Rhine,  the  Nile,  and  the  Western  wilderness  of  America,  I  sup¬ 
posed  there  remained  nothing  more,  at  least  on  our  continent,  to  furnish  a  suit¬ 
able  subject  to  meet  the  taste  those  other  noble  works  have  created.  But  I  see 
that  neither  the  works  of  the  Creator  nor  the  art  of  his  creature,  man,  are  yet 
exhausted.  Having  seen  the  beauties  of  the  Lakes,  and  the  grandeur  of  the 
World’s  great  Cataract,  I  was  delighted  at  the  display  of  your  skill  and  taste 
in  giving  so  vivid  and  faithful,  as  wTell  as  agreeable,  a  representation  of  them. 
But  for  the  section  of  the  St.  Lawrence  east  of  Quebec  I  was  not  prepared; 
and  especially  for  the  magnificence  of  the  Saguenay.  I  shall  always  retain 
the  delightful  impressions  your  very  skilful  exhibition  of  that  wonderful  river 
has  created.  May  your  talent  and  enterprise  meet  their  just  recompense! 

I  am,  truly,  your  obliged, 

REV.  EDW.  N.  KIRK. 

The  Farewell  of  the  Canadians. — A  portion  of  the  party  which  lately 
visited  us  from  Montreal  and  Quebec,  including  some  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  in  those  cities,  left  this  morning  on  their  reture,  expressing  themselves 
highly  gratified  with  their  visit.  They  were  received  on  Saturday  evening  at 
the  house  of  our  worthy  Mayor,  in  a  way  at  once  social,  refined,  and  wrnrthy  of 
our  “Temperance”  city.  The  members  of  the  city  government,  and  several 
other  gentlemen,  being  present,  including  the  proprietor  of  the  “  Seven  Mile 
Mirror,”  sentiments  cf  the  highest  respect  and  cordiality  were  interchanged, 
and  a  free  conversation  took  place,  which  will  undoubtedly  lead  to  further  in¬ 
timacy.  The  same  party,  in  company  with  a  large  number  of  ladies  and  gen¬ 
tlemen  of  this  city,  attended  a  special  exhibition  of  the  Mirror,  on  Friday,  at 
4  o’clock,  and  expressed  to  the  proprietor  their  high  satisfaction  with  the 
accuracy  and  beauty  of  his  delineations  of  the  scenery  which  is  so  familiar  to 
them. 

As  this  large  party  was  gotten  up  expressly  to  visit  the  Mirror,  the  pro-  ‘ 
prietor  did  not  fail  to  do  the  handsome  thing  by  his  guests,  furnishing  convey¬ 
ances  to  take  the  whole  party  to  and  from  the  depot,  and  to  visit  various  objects 
of  interest.  Having  stirred  up  all  New  England,  and  drawn  the  largest  com¬ 
pany  that  ever  visited  us  from  the  Queen’s  dependencies,  we  understand  that 
the  proprietor  does  not  mean  to  stop  here,  but  to  arrange,  at  no  distant  day,  to 
eonvey  a  party  of  Bostonians  to  Canada,  to  return  the  visit,  and  see  for  them¬ 
selves  the  original  of  his  great  painting.  The  following  testimonial,  in  the 


44 


meantime,  is  authority  sufficient  to  justify  any  one  in  visiting  the  Mirror. — 
Daily  Evening  Traveller. 


Boston,  September  llh,  1850. 

Sir, — We  feel  that  we  cannot  leave  Boston  without  expressing  to  you  the 
gratification  which  we  experienced  at  having  an  opportunity  of  visiting  your 
Panorama,  “The  Seven  Mile  Mirror  of  the  Lakes  and  the  Niagara,  St.  Law¬ 
rence  and  Saguenay  Rivers.”  As  Canadians,  we  feel  grateful  to  you  for  hav¬ 
ing  labored  with  so  much  zeal  to  exhibit  to  the  world  the  beautiful  scenery  of 
our  country,  and  we  willingly  bear  our  testimony  to  the  fidelity  of  your  repre¬ 
sentation  of  the  various  objects  depicted  in  your  Panorama,  all  of  which  have 
long  been  familiar  to  us.  We  have  learned  with  much  pleasure,  that  the  Mirror 
haq  been  exhibited,  during  the  last  year,  to  nearly  a  million  of  persons,  and  we 
confidently  hope,  that  should  you  visit  England,  it  will  be  an  object  of  attrac¬ 
tion  to  our  fellow  subjects  in  that  country.  The  opinions  which  we  have  ex¬ 
pressed  above,  are,  we  feel  assured,  concurred  in  by  the  large  party  of  Canadians, 
numbering  about  600,  who  have  availed  themselves  of  the  late  opportunity  of 
visiting  the  Mirror.  We  are,  sir,  your  most  obedients, 


J.  Hinks,  M.  P.  P., 
Charles  Wilson,  Aid., 

U.  Beaudry,  Aid., 

O.  Fuchette,  Councillor, 
J.  B.  Hornier,  Councillor, 
A.  Lassamboise,  J.  P., 
Major  McDonald. 


A.  H.  David.  M.  D., 

Jos.  Bourrett,  L.  C., 

A.  Gugy,  M.  P.  P., 

H.  Judah,  Advocate, 

O.  Berthelet,  J.  P, 

A.  Larocque,  Aid., 
Norbert  Dumas,  M.  P.  P. 


Perham’s  Seven  Mile  Mirror. — To  the  Editors  of  the  Traveller:  Have 
all  your  readers  visited  this  splendid  exhibition  ?  If  they  have  not,  I  would 
advise  them  to  do  it.  It  was  from  seeing  the  notice  of  it  in  the  Traveller 
that  I  was  induced  to  visit  it;  and  so  far  from  finding  the  account  exaggerated. 
I  can  in  truth  say  the  half  was  told  me.  It  is  truly  a  magnificent  affair.  1 
have  passed  over  nearly  the  entire  route  presented,  excepting  Saguenay  River, 
and  can  vouch  for  the  remarkable  accuracy  of  the  painting.  Buffalo,  Niagara 
Falls,  the  Suspension  Bridge,  the  cities  and  views  on  Lake  Ontario,  Ogdens- 
burgh,  the  Rapids,  Montreal;  Quebec,  the  Falls  of  Montmorency,  and  all  the 
intervening  objects  of  interest,  are  depicted  with  an  accuracy  and  a  brilliancy 
which  seem  like  the  very  objects  themselves.  In  fact,  the  information  and 
the  pleasure  obtained  at  the  expense  of  a  journey  through  the  entire  route,  can 
here  be  realized  for  twenty-five  cents !  I  say  this  unsolicited,  and  with  no 
motive  but  to  stir  up  all  your  readers  to  do  what  they  will  always  be  glad  to 
have  done.  The  views  on  the  Saguenay  River  surpass  anything  of  the  kind 
in  the  known  world.  A  bottomless  river,  rolling  its  dark  waters  through 
overhanging  rocks,  kissing  the  skies  at  the  height  of  two  or  three  thousand 
feet,  buries  and  overpowers  the  mind  with  thoughts  of  other  ages,  when  “  Eter¬ 
nity  Mountain”  rose  from  the  “  great  abyss,”  and  gaping  rocks  refused  to  let 
all  of  old  ocean  go  to  its  own.  Let  every  individual,  as  he  values  his  own 
edification  and  pleasure,  fail  not  to  see  this  exhibition  before  it  goes  to  London. 

REV.  HUBBARD  WINSLOW. 


W;  J.  Macdonell,  Esq.,  of  Toronto,  Canada,  visited  the  exhibition  of  the 
Seven  Mile  Mirror  of  the  Lakes,  Niagara,  St  Lawrence  and  Saguenay  Rivers, 
on  Friday  evening  last,  and  he  immediately  furnished  the  following  letter 
for  publication,  which  we  take  pleasure  in  copying  for  the  benefit  of  our 
readers : 


45 


Boston ,  February  9,  1850. 

To  the  Proprietor  of  the  Mirror. 

Sir — Being  on  a  visit  to  this  city,  I  was  induced  last  evening  to  attend  the 
exhibition  of  your  Mirror  of  the  Northern  Lakes,  now  on  view  at  the  Amory 
Hall.  I  have  resided  in  different  parts  of  Canada  for  nearly  twenty  years,  and 
being  well  acquainted  with  all  the  objects  of  interest  in  that  Province,  readily 
bear  testimony  to  the  general,  and  in  many  instances  surprising,  accuracy  of 
your  representations.  An  enumeration  of  their  several  excellences  would  be 
tedious,  and,  to  those  who  have  visited  the  scenes  depicted,  unnecessary,  As 
deserving  special  notice,  I  would  however  point  out  your  view  of  the  different 
rapids,  particularly  those  of  Lachine,  with  the  wreck  of  the  steamer  Dawn,  of 
which  vessel  I  was  a  proprietor. 

Wishing  you  the  success  which  your  endeavors  to  diffuse  accurate  informa¬ 
tion  respecting  the  magnificent  and  picturesque  scenery  of  our  Northern  waters 
.justly  merit,  I  remain,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

W.  J.  MACDONELL. 


OPINIONS  OF  THE  PRESS 

- 1  ©  * - 


PERHAM’S  SEVEN-MILE  MIRROR. 

FOR  THE  NATIONAL  INTELLIGENCER. 

This  panorama  is  not  only  to  be  considered  as  an  interesting  and  amusing 
exhibition,  but  it  is  likewise  a  w'ork  of  art,  and  of  high  merit;  and  it  is  in  part 
this  superlative  execution  which  has  placed  it  far  above  nearly  all  othe^  pano¬ 
ramas,  and  to  which  the  extraordinary  success  which  it  has  met  with  everj'- 
where  it  has  been  exhibited  can  be  attributed,  and  this  would  certainly  be  the 
case  in  any  country  where  it  might  be  unrolled  to  the  public. 

This  panorama  has  not  been  made  hastily,  and  for  the  purpose  of  answering 
the  wants  of  momentary  events,  as  has  been  the  case  with  several  panoramas  of 
California  and  many  others,  which  were  evidently  painted  in  such  haste  that 
no  time  was  left  to  give  them  the  finish  so  necessary  in  these  large  paintings, 
and  which  s£  eminently  distinguishes  that  of  the  “  Seven-Mile  Mirror.” 

It  is  evident,  by  looking  on  this  beautiful  panorama  from  the  beginning  to 
the  end,  that  it  was  painted  by  artists  who  were  eminent  in  their  art,  and  it 
shows  also  that  they  took  a  pride  in  their  work,  and  were  anxious  to  finish  it 
with  a  persevering  and  conscientious  aptitude,  in  order  to  produce  a  faithful 
painting,  which  should  give  credit  to  themselves  and  represent  with  exceeding 
correctness  all  the  different  sections  of  the  country  traveled  over  by  it. 

If  the  panorama  is  seen  at  the  proper  distance,  not  too  near,  then  it  will  be 
plainly  visible  that  each  part  contained  in  the  frame  in  view  is  a  picture  in  itself, 
and  each  move  of  the  canvas  produces  a  new  one;  so  that  we  can  imagine  our¬ 
selves  that  we  see  a  splendid  painting  gallery  passing  before  our  eyes. 

Having  traveled  over  nearly  all  the  region  represented  in  this  magnificent 
painting,  we  can  testify  to  its  exact  representation  of  the  localities.  It  will  be 
apparent  to  see  the  difference  between  an  American  and  Canadian  city,  the 
contrast  being  so  visible  that  every  one  will  perceive  it;  and  it  is  curious  to  see 
how  Montreal  and  Quebec  have  kept  nearly  their  French  appearance,  although  it 
will  soon  be  a  hundred  years  since  they  ceased  to  be  under  French  dominion. 


46 


Buffalo,  Niagara  Falls,  the  Suspension  Bridge,  the  cities  and  views  on  Lake 
Ontario,  the  Rapids,  Montreal,  Quebec,  the  Falls  of  Montmorenci,  and  all 
the  intervening  objects  of  interest,  are  depicted  with  an  accuracy  and  a  bril¬ 
liancy  which  seem  like  the  very  objects  themselves  ;  in  fact,  the  information  and 
the  pleasure  obtained  at  the  expense  of  a  journey  through  the  entire  route 
can  here  be  realized  for  twenty-five  cents. 

This  is  said  unsolicited,  and  with  no  other  motive  than  to  stir  up  all  the 
readers  of  this  paper  to  do  what  they  will  always  be  glad  to  have  done.  The 
views  on  the  Saguenay  river  surpass  anything  of  the  kind  in  the  known  world 
— a  bottomless  river  rolling  its  dark  waters  through  overhanging  rocks,  kiss¬ 
ing  the  skies,  at  the  elevation  of  two  or  three  thousand  feet,  buries  and  over¬ 
powers  the  mind  with  thoughts  of  other  ages.  The  painting  of  this  last 
section  is  beautifully  done,  and  the  coloring  of  the  different  shades  of  the  rocks 
is  true  to  nature. 

In  opposition  with  other  panoramas,  where  the  public  grows  dull  and  fatigued 
as  the  close  of  the  exhibition  draws  to  an  end,  here,  on  the  contrary,  the  mind 
of  the  traveler  becomes  more  and  more  fascinated  and  riveted  as  it  approaches 
the  end  of  his  journey;  the  scenery  becomes  more  wild  and  sublime;  till  he 
is  stopped  short  by  winter,  which  stares  him  in  full  face  by  a  snow-storm, 
which  prevents  him  from  penetrating  any  further  in  this  mysterious  and  ex¬ 
traordinary  part  of  the  world. 

It  is  curious  to  follow  the  remarkable  scenes  of  this  panorama,  and  it  is  not 
asserting  too  much  when  we  say  that  it  was  visited  in  Boston  by  over  one 
million  of  persons.  The  present  indefatigable  proprietor,  Mr.  Perham,  through 
well-organized  exertions,  brought  every  month  nearly  fifty  thousand  persons  to 
see  it ;  and  it  was  not  for  a  single  time  only  that  the  population  of  distant  cities 
migrated  momentarily  to  Boston  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  the  panorama;  they 
came  as  often  as  four  times:  Worcester  sent  at  different  times  four  thousand 
of  her  inhabitants  to  see  the  “Mirror.”  Having  had  the  satisfaction  to  see 
the  people  come  to  look  at  the  painting,  Mr.  Perham  took  them  in  return  with 
him  for  the  purpose  of  letting  them  see  the  original,  and  placing  them  in  a  posi¬ 
tion  to  compare  the  beauty  of  the  one  and  the  truthfulness  of  the  other.  He 
took  with  him  the  Bostonians  to  Canada,  and  brought  the  Canadians  to  Bos¬ 
ton  )  and  bv  his  activity  and  superior  management  he  made  cities  interchange 
momentarily  their  populations,  and  shake  hands  with  each  other.  All  this 
was  acomplished  fur  a  trifling  sum  comparatively  of  what  it  w7ould  have  cost 
individualy;  and  in  all  this  moving,  interchanging  of  localities,  and  traveling 
for  the  purpose  of  seeing  “  the  Mirror,”  we  can  safely  assert,  and  we  do  it 
with  pleasure,  that  we  never  heard  of  any  complaint;  and  if  we  take  all  this 
into  consideration,  we  can  call  him  without  contestation  the  “  Napoleon  for 
promoting  excursions.” 

From  here  the  panorama  will  soon  move  to  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  New 
York,  and  from  that  city  it  will  be  taken  over  to  London. 

March,  1852.  D.  E.  G. 

We  were  at  the  Minerva  Rooms  last  evening  to  see  the  Moving  Mirror, 
embracing  the  most  life-like  views  of  the  Niagara  River,  its  Islands,  the  Falls, 
Whirlpool,  Suspension  Bridge,  Lake  Ontario,  the  Thousand  Islands,  the  St. 
Lawrence,  Montreal,  Quebec,  the  picturesque  Falls  of  Montmorenci,  closing 
with  the  most  beautiful  and  amazingly  sublime  scenery  of  the  mighty  and 
mysterious  Saguenay.  Having  traveled  some  years  since  over  nearly  the  entire 
route,  we  were  curious  to  see  how  far  memory  had  proved  true  to  by¬ 
gone  days,  and  we  are  compelled  to  admit,  that  we  more  than  once  forgot 
our  identity  in  the  marvellous  and  faithful  transcript  which  passed  like 
magic  before  our  bewildered  gaze.  The  artistic  merit  of  this  noble  triumph 
of  American  skill,  is  undoubtedly  superior  to  any  other  painting  of  the  kind 
in  this  country.  It  being  an  opaque  picture,  it  is  admirably  adapted  to  the 


47 


taste  of  the  people.  We  recognized  many  striking  scenes,  with  the  utmost 
distinctness.  We  stood  some  ten  years  ago  on  the  summit  of  Brock’s  Monu¬ 
ment,  on  a  cold  bleak  day,  and  gazed  over  the  battle-field  and  snow-covered 
hills,  that  lost  their  outline  in  the  distant  clouds  and  distant  waters — we 
stood  again  last  night,  in  fancy,  on  the  same  spot,  with  emotions  strangely 
youthful.  The  whole  scene  is  enlivened  by  beautiful  music,  executed  by  the 
celebrated  Professor  Van  Der  Weyde,  on  one  of  T.  Gilbert  &  Co.’s  iEolian 
pianos,  which  seem  peculiarly  adapted  to  awaken  the  soul  to  the  enjoyment 
of  the  sublime  and  beautiful.  The  stupendous  peaks  of  the  Saguenay  are  a 
fitting  addenda  to  the  picture,  and  elicit  the  most  profound  admiration  from 
all  who  have  witnessed  them ;  indeed,  they  surpass  all  we  ever  dreamed  of, 
in  the  way  of  the  sublime  and  the  grand.  More  geography  of  the  frontier 
may  be  learned  at  the  Minerva  Rooms  in  a  couple  of  hours,  than  could  be 
obtained  elsewhere  in  the  same  number  of  months. — N.  Y.  Sun. 

The  Saguenay. — We  paid  a  visit  yesterday  to  the  Seven  Mile  Mirror,  and 
were  agreeably  surprised  at  its  accuracy  in  detail,  and  its  fine  effect  as  a 
whole.  The  picture  of  the  wonderful  Saguenay — the  most  astonishing  river 
on  the  globe — stealing  along  the  eternal  solitude  of  its  fathomless  gulf,  be¬ 
tween  banks  that  tower  far  above  the  clouds — is  worth  a  hundred  times  the 
price  of  admission. 

The  proprietor  selected  objects  of  curiosity  and  scenes  of  the  most  thrilling 
interest,  worthy  of  his  skill  in  artistic  combination.  Vales  on  vales  of 
Emerald,  mountains  on  mountains  of  Amethyst,  and  streams  on  streams  of 
Silver,  are  not  huddled  confusedly  together,  but  stretched  out  into  a  compre¬ 
hensive  and  grand  picture.  The  Saguenay  rolls  along  like  a  dream  through 
her  hushed  bed  to  the  Gulf.  The  observer  will  see  that  all  these  lakes  and 
rivers  form  a  perfect  chain  of  water  communication.  The  “  Thousand  Islands” 
force  us  into  the  belief  that  the  book  of  nature  has  but  one  page,  and  that  is 
beauty,  wafted  to  us  from  some  enchanted  land  of  loveliness  and  light.  The 
great  segment  of  the  circle  of  the  world  is  seen  in  this  picture.  Yesterday 
afternoon  crowds  were  seen  leaving  the  door,  as  all  the  seats  were  secured 
at  an  early  hour.  Persons  would  do  well  to  procure  tickets  in  advance. — 
Tribune. 

“  The  Moving  Mirror  of  the  Great  Lakes,  Niagara,  St.  Lawrence,  and 
Saguenay  Rivers  ” — We  took  occasion  a  few  evenings  since  to  visit  this 
Moving  Mirror,  now  on  exhibition  at  the  Minerva  Rooms,  406  Broadway,  and 
were  amply  repaid  for  our  trouble. 

Having  passed  over  nearly  the  whole  of  the  route  described,  some  four 
years  since,  we  were  prepared  to  discover  what  justice  the  artist  had  done  to 
their  subject,  and  what,  if  any,  errors  they  had  committed  to  canvas.  And 
(after  an  evening’s  inspection)  we  cheerfully  accord  our  testimony  to  its 
fidelity,  for  the  color  of  the  waters,  the  face  of  the  country,  the  tints  of  the 
flowers,  the  hues  of  the  foliage  and  shrubbery,  the  exact  condition  of  the 
public  buildings  and  private  residences,  are  all  so  true  to  nature  that  we 
almost  imagined  that  we  were  taking  our  tour  over  again. 

Nobly  have  the  artists  acquitted  themselves  in  bringing  out  a  work  of  so 
much  merit,  and  one  that  will,  we  thiak,  be  appreciated  by  a  discerning  public. 
We  say  to  one  and  all  of  our  readers,  that  Mr.  Burr,  the  proprietor,  richly 
merits  your  patronage,  and  those  of  you  who  have  not  as  yef'seen  this  great 
work  of  art,  should  by  all  means  take  the  earliest  opportunity  of  visiting  the 
Minerva  Rooms. — Merchants’  Ledger. 


k 


48 


The  Moving  Mirror. — In  these  days  of  panorama  mania,  of  course  there 
are  daubs  exhibited,  dignified  with  the  title  of  “  panorama,”  which  are  but 
frauds  upon  the  public,  and  are  calculated  to  affect  seriously  the  interests  of 
those  whose  exhibitions  are  really  meritorious.  As  it  is  the  duty  of  the  press 
to  expose  those  impositions,  so'  it  is  their  duty  to  direct  public  attention  to 
exhibitions  which  are  deserving  of  patronage  ;  and  we  now  refer  particularly  to 
what  is  termed  “  Burr's  Moving  Mirror, ’’  and  pronounce  it,  in  all  respects, 
highly  deserving  patronage,  and  we  trust  that  no  one  will  fail  to  visit  it, 
because  it  will  not  only  afford  considerable  gratification,  from  the  views  re¬ 
presented,  but  viewing  it  as  a  work  of  art,  that  feeling  cannot  fail  to  be  en¬ 
hanced.  The  trip  from  Buffalo  to  the  Saguenay  river  exhibits  views  of 
Niagara,  the  Horse  Shoe  and  American  Falls,  the  Suspension  Bridge;  and 
emerging  from  the  Niagara  river,  you  pass  Hamilton,  obtain  a  fine  sight  of  To¬ 
ronto  ;  of  Port  Hope  Lighthouse  in  a  storm- — and  the  group  of  islands  be¬ 
tween  it  and  Kingston.  You  then  pass  in  succession,  Kingston,  Brockville 
i  (a  beautiful  moonlight  view),  Ogdensburgh — the  various  rapids  between, 
Prescott  and  Montreal,  of  which  city,  the  painting  is  peculiarly  spirited,  and 
the  Three  Rivers.  You  then  pass  to  Quebec,  seen  at  sunrise  ;  the  Falls  of 
Montmorenci;  thence  descend  to  the  Saguenay  river,  the  representation  of 
which  forms  one  part  of  the  exhibition,  and  in  all  respects  is  one  of  the  grand¬ 
est  in  point  of  scenery  we  have  ever  witnessed,  and  is  delineated  in  a  masterly 
style.  But  it  is  quite  impossible  by  any  description  to  afford  an  idea  of  the 
attractions  of  the  exhibition  ;  and  we  can  only  inform  those  who  fail  to  visit 
this  panorama,  that  they  lose  a  very  great  treat. — Evening  Mirror. 

The  Seven  Mile  Moving  Mirror. — This  great  painting,  just  opened  for 
public  exhibition  at  Amory  Hall,  equals  anything  of  the  kind  ever  seen  in  this 
city.  The  pictorial  journey  commences  on  Lake  Erie,  showing  the  spectator 
nearly  the  whole  border  scenery  on  both  the  United  States  and  Canadian 
shores,  from  the  lake  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  and  from  thence  up  the  Sague¬ 
nay  river  to  the  great  rapids  near  Lake  St.  John.  The  extended  view  of  Niagara 
Falls  excels  any  previous  painting  of  the  great  cataract,  and  gives  the  beholder 
a  correct  idea  of  the  original.  An  innumerable  variety  of  beautiful  scenery 
next  meets  the  eye,  viz. :  Montreal,  Quebec,  and  Ogdensburgh,  which  are  each 
graphically  portrayed  ;  but  the  chief  attraction,  to  our  mind,  is  the  Saguenay 
river  (in  the  Hudson  Bay  Company’s  territory),  the  shores  of  which,  for  nearly 
one  hundred  miles,  rise  precipitously  to  over  fifteen  hundred  feet,  imparting  at 
once  the  most  gorgeous  and  sublime  spectacle  in  the  world.  We  advise  all 
our  readers  to  see  this  elegant  and  instructing  exhibition. —  Boston  Post. 


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